Abstract
This chapter seeks to untangle the concept of general music education and to describe its functions, aims, and applications over the last hundred years, in varied cultural contexts. Is “general” a fitting and useful qualifier for the varied curricula, instructional approaches, and teaching methods that have come to characterize general music? How have the primary aims of general music shifted over time, and how have these orientations impacted curriculum and instruction? These are some of the questions addressed in this chapter. A number of instructional concepts frequently used in general music discourse (e.g., approach, method, technique) are unpacked, serving to frame subsequent chapters in the book. The ultimate goal of the chapter is to examine past and present thinking and practice in general music as a way to inform future directions.