ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to review key research in, and practices of, creativity in music and music education in order to assist the reader to better understand what is known about the development of musical creativity. 'Creativity' is a complex and fairly vague term, and in order to think about creativity in music and music education, it is necessary to look at the concept of creativity itself. A review of the ever-expanding academic literature on general creativity reveals four distinct but closely related main study themes: the characteristics of the creative person, the facilitating environment for creativity, the creative process, and the assessment of creative products. In countries where musical creativity is an established element in schools there seems to be a historical background to the reported practices coupled with a pedagogy that goes beyond teacher-centred activities. Music and music education research has shown how learners' creative development is linked with the opportunities they encounter, formally and informally.
