What is music? Let children answer

Abstract

This article describes a research project developed during the Practicum year of Minho University’s Master Degree in Music Education for specialized schools. The project took place at Conservatório Bomfim (a specialized music school in Braga’s city center) and involved Saxophone and Orchestra students from elementary to high school levels. The main goal was to understand if the exploration of the social funcions of music during students learning process would promote a more complete music education and a better understanding of music. The project also aimed at bringing music lessons and classes closer to the different student profiles and at developing their motivation. After a thorough theoretical framework study, and with the help of data collection tools such as participant observation and surveys (to participant students and school community) it was possible to identify similarities between the student’s perspectives about the social funcions of music and the opinions of specialized researchers in music sociology. However, these perspectives are not to be found in the specialized music school’s status quo, which raises questions about the different meanings of music for students and teachers, and about present music programs, pedagogical strategies and social perspectives on the goals of music education.