This study explores the practice of cooperative learning in music education with the aim of optimizing and enhancing students' learning strategies. Cooperative learning has shown remarkable effect in music education by adopting strategies such as group grouping and cooperation, interaction and cooperation skills training, music project and cooperation practice, evaluation and feedback. The assessment results showed that cooperative learning not only helped students improve their musical skills, but also promoted the development of non-musical abilities, such as teamwork and communication skills. In addition, cooperative learning can also enhance students' interest and motivation in music learning. However, there are also some challenges in practice, such as differences in students' willingness to cooperate and coordination problems in the cooperation process. In view of these challenges, this paper puts forward corresponding countermeasures and suggestions, such as establishing clear cooperation rules and providing necessary cooperation skills training. Looking forward to the future, with the continuous development of educational concepts and technologies, the application of cooperative learning in music education will have a broader prospect, and it is expected to further improve the learning effect and comprehensive quality of students through innovative teaching methods and technical means.