Music education does not exist independently; it exists in a social context. The
author sheds light on political, economic, sociological and cultural influences
on the history of Korean middle school music education between the years of
1945 and 2005. This book divides the history of Korean school music
curriculum into four periods: (1) Immediate Post War Period (1945-1960); (2)
National Development (1960-1979); (3) Stability Period (1980-1987); and (4)
Towards the 21st Century (1988-2005). Each period is contextualized along
political and socioeconomic lines, and includes a thorough discussion on the
musical philosophies and repertoire used in the specific time frames. Adding
a vivid dimension to the school music experiences across time, the book is
also analyzed the content of schools songs contained in textbooks. Music
educators should be responsive to this issue, and the book discusses some
interesting issues that are relevant to musicians from different parts of the
world.