Project-Based Teaching and Learning in Music Education

Project-Based Teaching and Learning in Music Education explores the design and implementation of educational projects across a wide range of music learning contexts. As cultures increasingly collide and converge, the need for educators to prioritize collaboration and co-constructed learning becomes increasingly important. For music educators, this responsibility is compounded by budget cuts, shifting priorities, growing teacher shortages, the rise of “teacher proof” curricula, and a host of other challenges. Against this backdrop, dynamic educational frameworks that help students explore their local and global world through music are crucial. Project-based teaching and learning (PBTL) is one such framework—a means by which music educators might (re)claim a sense of purpose toward and presence with the musicians entrusted to their care.

As a guide to creating learning projects that are relevant and responsive to students, this book offers practical entry points for planning and engaging in PBTL experiences in various grade levels and contexts. Considering challenges and opportunities alongside historical underpinnings, the book illustrates the theory of project-based teaching through real-world examples, vignettes, and reflective prompts to support implementation. Offering a unique combination of critical scholarship and practical application, this book aims to inspire innovative classroom practices that reimagine what might be possible in and through music education. Project-Based Teaching and Learning in Music Education will be a timely resource for music educators of all levels and in a range of educational contexts.