Praxial Music Education is a collection of essays by nineteen internationally recognized scholars in music education. Each essay offers critical reflections on a key topic in contemporary music education.

The starting point of each essay, and the unifying thread of this collection, is the "praxial" philosophy of music education explained in Elliott's Music Matters: A New Philosophy of Music Education (OUP, 1995). This philosophy argues for a socially and artistically grounded concept of music and music education, challenging the field's traditional "absolutist" foundations. Praxial Music Education is both a critical companion to Music Matters, and an independent text on contemporary issues in music education. Among the themes discussed are multicultural music education, the nature of musical understanding, early childhood music education, the nature and teaching of music listening, music curriculum development, and musical creativity. Praxial music education is a living theory; a dedicated web site (http://www.nyu.edu/education/music/musicmat) offers Elliott's reflections and "dialogues" with each author's ideas.

This unique collection will not only enrich discussions that already use Music Matters as their core, but will globalize current discussions and applications of the praxial philosophy and emphasize the positive and practical values of collaborative efforts in music education. A companion to Music Matters, this book is designed to spark debate and deeper analysis of this influential theory in music education.

David J. Elliott's profile page

David J. Elliott is Professor of Music Education and Graduate Adviser for Music Education at NYU. He previously taught and coordinated music education at the University of Toronto. He speaks at conferences around the world and is a frequent guest lecturer. He is also an active performer and an award-winning composer/arranger who has several choral and instrumental works in publication with Boosey and Hawkes.

"...the real beauty of this collection of writings can be found in the diversity of perspectives and opinions presented.... he sets an impressive example for all of us by initiating and participating in real and meaningful dialogues among music educators in his book and accompanying Web site.... There is something for everyone in this book--those who identify with music education as aesthetic education, those who connect more closely with praxial philosophy, and those who may not have yet given formal music education philosophy a single thought."--Music Educators Journal

"Essays in this new book, written by a diverse group of internationally renowned music education scholars on a wide variety of contemporary music education topics, are carefully reasoned and well written. However, the real beauty of this collection of writings can be found in the diversity of perspectives and opinions presented...There is something for everyone in this book- those who identify with music education as aesthetic education, those who connect more closely with praxial philosophy, and those who may not have yet given formal music education philosophy a single thought." --Music Educators Journal