Climate-conscious popular music education: Theory and practice

Abstract

Given popular music’s impact and its tradition in environmental activism, popular music education seems suited to contribute to a societal transformation towards sustainability in which the arts are increasingly considered to play an important role. The article proposes goals and methods of a climate-conscious popular music education, illustrated with examples from the author’s experience in music education. Drawing from and adding to eco-literate music pedagogy and activist music education, the article suggests that a climate-conscious popular music education should include: reducing the carbon footprint of educational practices; cultivating ecological consciousness, i.e. a connection to and appreciation of local nature; understanding climate change as a complex issue of intergenerational and global justice; using the specific potential of music to help overcome barriers to climate action, in particular its sensory, imaginative, creative, emotional, expressive and communal character.