ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the need for a theoretical framework to guide middle level general music and presents the Fertile Ground Framework as one possibility to fulfill this need. The Fertile Ground Framework is grounded in six principles of democratic education that guide discussion throughout the book: (1) educating the whole student, (2) making connections, (3) integrating students’ perspectives, (4) encouraging student growth, (5) including diverse and comprehensive musical forms, and (6) teaching all students. In addition, the chapter connects these democratic principles to the four major components of the Fertile Ground Framework. Subsequent chapters of the book are shaped around the four major components of the Framework—the students and their classroom (Part 1), middle level pedagogical essentials and the four artistic processes (Part 2), and authentic and intentional assessments (Part 3)—in more depth. The argument in this book is that through the six democratic principles and the Fertile Ground Framework, general music and middle level education are united in a way that provides young adolescents with music education in general music designed to inspire their musical futures both within and beyond the formal music learning environment.
