International Journal of Music and Performing Arts

Curriculum Development in Music Programs: The Accommodation or Cooptation by Other Cultures to Conform to the Canadian Mosaic Ideology and How These Have Been Successful or Unsuccessful
Anthony “Salah” Wilson

Abstract
The narrative begins with a historic survey of music programs in public institutions of learning in Canada. Looking at its inception, how, when and where did the music enter the schools‟ system? What are the factors, that allowed and provided for its growth and development to the present day? Was Canada‟s music derived of its own origin, or was it borrowed from another culture? Understanding Canada‟s diversity is essential to the narrative. I will examine its views on multiculturalism as this will form a background for what is to follow. However, the research and focus will be limited to the many varied systems that are in use in Toronto. This city exhibits the most in diversity in all of Canada. It also offers a healthy discussion on a wide range of practical examples in multiculturalism. The research will therefore incorporate these examples as they relate to the respective areas of cultural diversity and race relations. I will also be looking at the documentations and programs of the elementary and secondary school systems, as well as the higher institutions of learning. While understanding the diversity of cultural musical instruments and programs that exist in these institutions, it is equally important to know, when and why were they allowed into the Western Art Music (WAM) traditions. As a final case study, I will examine a specific cultural instrument‟s emergence on the academic platform, the steelpan. This instrument has been introduced to Canadian academia since the early 1970‟s. Why and how was the steelpan introduced to the public-schools‟ system? How was it sustained and developed to become an accredited program a decade after its inception? What was the impetus for the steelpan‟s continuing journey into post secondary education? After more than a decade in colleges and universities of Toronto, an examination of the types of programs offered at this level is relevant. In addition, an analysis should determine whether or not this has been a successful development of a cultural music incorporated in the Canadian mosaic.

Full Text: PDF     DOI: 10.15640/ijmpa.v7n1a1