Music Education in Rural America Volume 1: Policies and Perspectives is the first publication of its kind, advancing asset-based policies and practices in music education for nearly 10 million rural students nationwide. Although one in five Americans live in areas designated as rural, relatively few resources are available about teaching music in those settings, even as rural music educators face systemic and considerable challenges. By exploring the influence of urbanormativity and historical trends, the contributing authors advocate for school music programs that sustain rural values, interests, communities, and ecosystems.

Using place-based education, contextually responsive teaching, and community engagement, the contributing authors present 10 chapters that encompass a multi-dimensional definition of rurality including population, landscape, and sociocultural contexts. Their own first-hand perspectives describe the importance and character of rural places themselves. Throughlines of this volume are disentangling assumptions about rural schools and their resources, pedagogical potential, and musical possibilities. Written for music educators, scholars, policymakers, school administrators, and music-teacher educators, this volume affirms that geography is not inherently a limitation and that all students deserve access to responsive music education, regardless of their zip codes.