Sounding the Silences of African American Music Education History: A Bibliographic Guide to Research Literature from the Twentieth Century

Abstract

In this bibliographic guide, the authors present an analysis and preliminary interpretation of 182 research studies on African American music education (AAME) completed at US institutions in the twentieth century. The goal is to provide a resource and forum for music education scholars pursuing topics on AAME history and to amplify studies that have heretofore been hidden in large part. Ultimately, insights from this body of literature can contribute to the construction of a more inclusive history of American music education. The project was guided by these questions: What are the characteristics and developmental trends of research studies on AAME spanning the twentieth century? What insights are gained from a topical and chronological analysis of studies to inform a historical narrative of AAME in schools, colleges, and communities? The article is organized as follows: orientation to Black bibliography; gathering and organizing studies; profile of studies; categorical and topical analysis; and a closing section that highlights unique features of the collection of studies and implications for future research. Studies are presented in five categories: Black Music in the Curriculum, Student Musical Abilities and Interests, K–12 School Music Programs, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and Professional Lives of Black Music Educators.