ABSTRACT
“A study of the arts provides children with an internal glimpse of other cultures and teaches them to be empathetic toward the people of these cultures. The goals and objectives for most elementary schools include understanding other cultures as well as the American culture. One important reason for the study of world music to be included in schools is that students need to learn that the music of the Western culture is only one of the many musical styles that exist around the world. Music activities featuring folk dance, ethnic instruments, and cultural uses are included in all the music textbooks available for use in American schools. By starting with the cultures of the children in class, and then progressing to other, more distant countries and cultures, multicultural studies seem less daunting and more manageable for both teacher and pupils. Aaron Copland was an important American composer.
