Home - Cambridge Scholars Publishing

Songs of Resilience
Editor: Andy Brader
Date Of Publication: Jan 2011
Isbn13: 978-1-4438-2652-5
Isbn: 1-4438-2652-9
The chapters of this book form a persuasive chorus of social practices that advocate the use of music to build a capacity for resilience in individuals and groups. As a whole they exemplify music projects that share common features aligned with an ecological view of reform in health, education and social work systems. Internationally renowned and early career academics have collaborated with practitioners to sing ‘Songs of Resilience’; some of which are narratives that report on the effects of music practices for a general population, and some are based on a specific approach, genre or service. Others are quite literally ‘songs’ that demonstrate aspects of resilience in action. The book makes the connection between music and resilience explicit by posing the following questions—Do music projects in education, health and social services build a measurable capacity for resilience amongst individuals? Can we replicate these projects’ outcomes to develop a capacity for resilience in diverse cultural groups? Does shared use of the term ‘resilience’ help to secure funding for innovative musical activities that provide tangible health, education and social outcomes?

Andy Brader specialises in education, music and technology. His research focuses on multi-media work created by and with disengaged youth. His teaching expertise focuses on the development of blended multi-media education projects. Andy possesses significant skills in working collaboratively in low socio-economic areas, and as the founder of a non-profit music organisation in the UK, he has a strong commitment to securing first class facilities for all young people.

“Practitioners working with those facing adversities know that music is a source of untapped educational power. This important volume documents resilience through music projects, the making of meaning and the remaking of lives and cultures.”

—Allan Luke, Queensland University of Technology, Australia

“In a world increasingly beset by polarizing and fragmenting forces, this book sets an example of activism that is deeply rooted in analysis and critique. Both the scholarly and practitioner communities will benefit from this work, which recounts compelling stories of compassion and empathy building a strong case for understanding the nexus between music and resilience.”

—André de Quadros, Boston University, USA

“Music, including singing, is one of the core features of our human communication and identity. Research is also providing significant details of how music can have extremely positive benefits to health (physical and psychological). This book is an important contribution to our growing awareness of why music should be integral to lifelong educational experiences.”

—Graham F. Welch, Institute of Education, London

“This important volume offers an excellent resource for those musicians who conceive of their work within a politics of social intervention. With a particular focus towards public funded projects, the authors integrate and challenge our notions of how music can be understood within the domains of health, education and social services. Located in the practical business of music making, this set of chapters is a must read for those of us who believe that music can effect transformation.”

—Lee Higgins, Boston University, USA

Price Uk Gbp: 39.99
Price Us Usd: 59.99

Sample pdf (including Table of Contents)

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Interesting reviews

From Navigating Music and Sound Education

“We rarely have the opportunity and time to engage with the practicalities of music teaching through the lens of evidence-based practice. This book provides us with a wonderful exception that is accessible to beginning and established teachers. It contains a wide range of stimulating and thought-provoking material that draws on real-world experiences and events, which are contextualised, informed and structured by theory. This is a powerful combination that we can visit again and again for insight and inspiration. Congratulations to all involved, particularly the editors for shaping such a valuable contribution!”
—Professor Graham F. Welch, University of London; President, International Society of Music Education

“Navigating music and sound education draws together a range of issues increasingly acknowledged to be at the basis of reflective and effective music learning and teaching: social settings, cultural dimensions, gender, indigeneity, varying cognitive approaches, inter-disciplinary connections, technology, types of learning, and creativity. It opens up areas of pedagogy that go beyond classroom methodology to acknowledge student individuality and encourage music learning and teaching grounded in the reality of students’ musical and social lives. It will be invaluable for those training to become educators and for teachers already in the field.”
—Associate Professor Peter Dunbar-Hall, University of Sydney

“This book brings an important contribution to music teacher education as it challenges the readers to rethink their paradigms of music education. It highlights the importance of preparing a reflective teacher, autonomous, creative and conscious of the multifaceted and multicultural locus in which they will work. The book also draws on the importance for music teachers to consider the context in which they work, and establish a dialog between local musical traditions, informal music practices and global trends of music teaching and learning. Most importantly, all chapters are in one way or another derived from research carried out on specific areas, thus stressing the importance of the research informed practice in music education.”
—Professor Liane Hentschke, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil; International Society of Music Education Immediate Past President

Many readers will appreciate Steve Dillon and Kathy Hirche’s description of the future of education in their work with dynamic technological contexts.

Navigating Music and Sound Education is a wonderful guide and resource for pre-service music teachers, for teachers in the field, and for teacher educators.

It offers a range of fresh perspectives on the state of music education as it is and as it might be. Kari K Veblen

Navigating Music and Sound Education is an ambitious project which features current research from 20 individuals whose professional identities run the gamut from musician to songwriter to student to educator to music therapist to ethnomusicologist. The book’s scope is perhaps the most exciting aspect of Navigating Music and Sound Education.
Kari K Veblen
University of Western Ontario
British Journal of Music Education
October 2011