ABSTRACT
This conclusion presents some closing thoughts on the concepts discussed in the preceding chapters of this book. The book illustrates that patriotism has long played an important role in music education throughout the world, from past generations to the present day. It discusses the genuine danger that an emphasis on patriotism in music education may lessen educational quality by not only distracting music educators from much of the music originating from outside their own nation, but also by promoting a misleading and even artificial view of heritage and tradition. Patriotic music education may to some extent be appropriately regarded as in direct opposition to the position of most every notable approach in contemporary music education philosophy. The experiences in various countries such as Germany can be a point of reference in order to understand where the misuse of music education for nationalist purposes can ultimately lead.
