Socio-cultural perspectives on multicultural music education: reappraising the content of music curricula

Changing social demographics in all parts of the world have brought about the need for changes in curriculum content in education and by extension, music education. In this paper I discuss sociocultural perspectives on multicultural music education with particular reference to a) tolerance and understanding, and b) multicultural awareness and open-mindedness as rationales for multicultural music education. Current provision for multicultural music education in second level curriculum documents and highlights from the Music Education National Debate (2004) is discussed in the light of recent sociocultural changes in Irish society. Findings from a survey and focus group discussion point to sociocultural rationale for multicultural music education in Ireland. Moreover, data from second level music teachers’ experiences and attitudes of their training and music education practice suggest that content at both second and in higher music education in Ireland is due for reappraisal. To conclude, I propose Campbell’s Concentric Circles Model (1996) as a way forward forYe