The development of creative music in schools: Some perspectives from the history of musical education of the under-twelves (MEUT) 1949-1983

This paper traces the rise of creative music making in schools in the Unite d Kingdom through the history of a subject association, Musical Education o f the Under-Twelves (MEUT). Three questions are asked: What educational thi nking underpinned creative music making? In what practical ways was such wo rk developed? What are the implications of the study for further work on th e development of the curriculum? It focuses upon the progressive ideals voi ced at conferences, which linked child-centered notions to musical creativi ty. An account is provided of the practical models presented, and in partic ular notes the appearance of different approaches based upon Orff, and on t he music of the avant-garde. The paper argues that these different approach es were fundamentally different from the child-centered model, and created the potential for confusion and mystification. Finally the history of parti cular influences on the music curriculum through a study of subject associa tions is seen as a way forward in understanding the development of key idea s.