ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book attempts to frame the experiences of many Black and Latinx students in conservatory environments as they related their own experiences to the author, and to suggest changes that would improve the quality of those experiences. It focuses on the aesthetic alienation experienced by students of color in conservatory environments. The book examines social theories, such as the white racial frame, fugitive pedagogy, and assimilationist education, in the context of classical music. It addresses the advantages and disadvantages, for institutions and for students, of creating a DEI center and/or a staff position intended to address issues of equity and belonging. The book provides suggestions for how such a position should be structured and for staff hired into those positions. It also addresses questions of equity, which are often overlooked in conservatory education.
