ABSTRACT
The age-old debate about whether theory is important for practice is one in which immediate teaching needs are weighed against lofty theoretical concepts that may seem to be divorced from reality. The study of theory, therefore, allows teachers to become critically conscious of their own theoretical perspectives while deepening their understanding of the ways in which theory can inform their practice. It is the mistaken assumption that theory can be divorced from teaching and the invisibility of our theoretical worldviews that make the study of theory an essential component of music teaching. The growing diversity is perhaps most visible in school classrooms where the rich cultural, musical, and linguistic diversity of these changing populations is present and vibrant. Despite the dilemma, the recognition of students’ cultures both in traditional and evolving ways is an important step towards culturally sustaining and revitalizing education.
