About the Book

The understanding of music involves the mastery of its various layers of meaning. Sometimes this meaning can be acquired through human insight; at other times it can be learned.
The central concern of Musical Knowledge is the tension between intuitive and analytical ways of making sense of the world. A theoretical exploration of musical knowledge leads to an examination of ways of researching the musical experience. Keith Swanwick concludes with a section which will be of direct practical help to teachers. He suggests ways in which music education can be a vital transaction, giving examples across a range of music teaching, including school classroom and instrumental studios. The book will be of interest to anyone who makes or responds to music.