'From the classroom to stage': developing an African popular music pedagogy

Abstract

Despite its popularity, the academic study of popular music is still in its infancy in most parts of Africa. The need to bring popular music within the mainstream of music and theatre education forms the main thrust of this article. Materials are drawn primarily from field experiences of this writer as a music teacher and performing artist. These data are complemented by secondary sources mainly from recent researches on the subject from other parts of the world. The paper observes that as long as popular music continues to be excluded from the classroom, the connection between 'school music and its wider usage outside the school environment will continue to be elusive. It also observes that lack of appropriate pedagogical methods may have hampered the inclusion of popular music in the mainstream of music education in Africa. The conclusion reached therefore is that only extensive fieldwork can produce the right methods for popular music pedagogy in African schools but should be based on students' learning experiences, felt needs, motivation and meeting societal need.

Keywords: Popular music, PMP, Musics, Africa, Music pedagogy in African schools