Teaching Secondary Music - Practical Guide for Classroom Practice

In this review of Teaching Secondary Music, the book is presented as a practical, classroom-focused resource for teachers and teacher education students seeking clearer strategies for delivering secondary music education. The single biggest reason to buy is its blend of theory and applied examples: the editors combine discussion of the nature of musical understanding with ready-to-use case studies and resources so readers can translate ideas directly into lesson planning and assessment. This review finds the tone accessible and the structure deliberately aligned with secondary curriculum needs.

Key Features

• Comprehensive overview: Covers the major issues in secondary music education so readers gain a coherent view of the subject and its classroom implications.
• Focus on musical understanding: Explores how students develop musical skills and concepts, helping teachers plan learning sequences that build progress.
• Assessment guidance: Offers approaches to assessing musical progress that align with practical classroom practice rather than abstract theory.
• Case studies and resources: Supported with concrete examples and classroom resources that illustrate effective pedagogies and activities.
• Teacher education utility: Structured to support trainee teachers as a study text and a source of strategies they can apply during placements.

Who It's For

Teaching Secondary Music is aimed primarily at secondary classroom teachers who want a modern, accessible discussion of pedagogy and assessment in music. It suits practicing teachers who need evidence-informed approaches and teacher education students who require a comprehensive introduction to key debates and methods in the subject.

It is less suitable for advanced researchers seeking in-depth theoretical treatises or for instrumentalists looking for technical performance instruction; the emphasis is pedagogical and curricular rather than on advanced composition or performance technique.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Practical balance of theory and classroom examples makes it straightforward to apply ideas in lesson planning.
• Clear focus on assessing musical progress provides usable approaches for formative and summative assessment.
• Useful for teacher training with structured coverage of core topics relevant to secondary curriculum.

Cons

• Not a technical performance manual, so readers seeking advanced musical technique or composition methods will need supplementary texts.

Specifications

Our Verdict

Teaching Secondary Music is a solid, practical resource for teachers and trainees who need clear strategies for planning and assessing music lessons. Its value lies in usable case studies and a readable treatment of musical understanding that helps bridge theory and classroom practice, making it a good-value addition to professional development or teacher education reading lists.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this book suitable for trainee teachers?
Yes; it is specifically structured to support teacher education students with an accessible overview of core topics and practical examples.

Will it help with assessment planning?
The book includes approaches to assessing musical progress that are designed to be applied in secondary classrooms.

Does it include advanced performance technique?
No; the emphasis is on pedagogy and curriculum rather than detailed technical performance instruction.