ABSTRACT
As the United States continues to evolve as a highly technological and informational society, its education system must evolve as well. The challenges of the 21st century are different from those of earlier times, and educators need to consider what knowledge and skills their students will need as they take their places as adults in 21st century society. The Partnership for 21st Century Skills (www.21stcenturyskills.org), a group of
more than 30 education organizations, policy makers, manufacturers, and technology and media companies, proposes a vision for student success in the global economy. Its Framework for 21st Century Learning includes four broad outcomes:
Core Subjects (which include the arts) weaved together with four 21st century interdisciplinary themes
Global Awareness Financial, Economic, Business and Entrepreneurial Literacy Civic Literacy Health Literacy
Learning and Innovation Skills Creativity and Innovation Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Communication and Collaboration
Information, Media and Technology Skills Information Literacy Media Literacy Communications and Technology Literacy
Life and Career Skills Flexibility and Adaptability Initiative and Self-direction Social and Cross-cultural Skills Productivity and Accountability Leadership and Responsibility
Music education has a necessary role in preparing students to meet the needs of the 21st century global society. There are implications for education reform paradigms that could make our profession look somewhat different from what it is now if it is to remain relevant to the future. Students will grow up in a different kind of society, and music education must continually adjust to meet their needs. For example, Sir Kenneth Robinson wrote about the need for creativity, “humanity’s future depends on our ability to ‘reconstitute our conception of human capacity’” (Robinson 2006).
