The history of school music in New Zealand

Abstract

The aim of this thesis is to find reasons for the present state of music as a subject in New Zealand primary and post-primary schools. As a school-music specialist (giving me a biased approach?) I find it fascinating to trace the historical background of the field of music education. As a research student I consider it important to try to unearth the complex factors creating the musical scene in today's schools. It is neither possible nor necessary to delineate the features of that present musical scene. Dr. Malcolm Tait is at present engaged in research on this topic which is complete in itself. In any case both the reader and the writer know sufficient of today's school music situation not to be at any significant disadvantage.