Realizing Diversity

Music teachers face hard questions about diversity: how to reach varied communities, choose repertoire, and respect people's identities while keeping musical standards and fairness intact. The book examines concepts such as cultural appropriation, othering, tokenism, and essentialism, and asks educators to reflect on their own identities and on how they relate to the music and people they teach.

Karen Howard presents an Anti-Bias Framework to help educators design curricula that are fair and welcoming, so every participant feels secure. The framework is organized around four social justice domains: identity, diversity, justice, and action. Within these, it addresses anti-racism, gender and sexual identity, power and privilege, disability, economic conditions, empathy, and critical consciousness.

The author also looks at educational reform movements in United States history, the contested "world music" label and debates over authenticity, and the dominance of Western, Eurocentric music in classrooms and programs. Guidance on inclusive repertoire selection runs throughout.

The book is written for pre-service, beginning, and experienced music teachers working with everyone from toddlers to adults, in preschools, schools, universities, ensembles, private studios, and community groups. Appendices offer critical practices for educators and a sample curriculum.