Core Music Standards in the US part 1

 Core Music Standards in the US part 1 

            In June of 2014 the National Coalition for Core Arts Standards completed the new US National Standards.   These standards that are now available to music educators include music standards prepared by the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) are now available to music educators  “Unlike national Common Core standards that have been widely criticized for narrowing student learning opportunities, the New National Core Music Standards aim to broaden and deepen learning opportunities for students.”  (http://www.nafme.org/my-classroom/standards/)  These new standards appear to have moved significantly away from the emphasis of the standards of 1994. 

            If a Christian music educator utilizes these new music standards, what will they mean to the process and philosophy of Christian music education?  In my opinion they are too new for one to give an effective philosophical evaluation of exactly how they will affect music education in the Christian school. There are three philosophical changes that the coalition professes them to make: “1) The new standards seek to instill music literacy.  2) The new standards reflect the actual processes in which musicians engage.   3) The new standards provide teachers with frameworks that closely match the unique goals of their specialized classes.”  (http://www.nafme.org/my-classroom/standards/)