This article considers whether the German concept of “Bildung”, meaning human personal growth—a term not often used in English debates about culture or education—can help in understanding differing pedagogical and philosophical approaches to recent music education policy in England. It explores connections between two conceptions of Bildung: “object-oriented” and “subject-oriented”; two key approaches to education: “traditional” and “progressive”; and two models of cultural policy: cultural democracy and democratisation of culture, in explaining one of the significant debates in music pedagogy about how to engage children and young people in music education. In considering these questions, the article examines recent developments in the provision of music education in the English school system, particularly the National Plan for Music Education, Music Education Hubs and the independent Musical Futures initiative. We conclude that recent government policies incorporate ideas of the authority of teachers and a musical canon, while other approaches give more priority to children’s own musical references and activity. Our three related theories shed light on this continuing debate about value and engagement in music education, and on the place of children and young people in their musical learning.
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