This literature review explores how music education in middle childhood (ages 7–12) can be enriched by moving beyond the traditional Western classical canon. Grounded in research on culturally responsive pedagogy and musical identity development, the project investigates how including music from diverse cultural backgrounds—particularly those connected to students’ lived experiences—can support engagement, creativity, and a deeper sense of belonging in the classroom. The review examines key benefits of culturally inclusive music instruction, such as increased motivation and identity affirmation, while also considering the practical and institutional challenges educators may face when broadening their curriculum. Ultimately, the paper seeks to understand how music educators can meaningfully incorporate a wider range of musical traditions to create more equitable and representative learning environments. For this paper, I would like you to use 10 academic sources. Please include both peer-reviewed journal articles and relevant books or book chapters, especially related to topics like culturally responsive pedagogy, music education in middle childhood, and diverse musical repertoires.
I’ve already read a few key sources like:
- McPherson & Davidson (2006), The Child as Musician
- Akutsu (2019), Suzuki Method
- Huovinen & Rautanen (2019), Group musical creativity
Please include at least some scholarly sources like these, and cite everything properly in APA format. Let me know if you need help locating sources.