Critical Thinking and Music Education

For decades critical thinking was seen as a skill that had to be developed in every educational context. Therefore, developing this ability became a principal issue for many educators and researchers. A great deal of research was carried out to reveal what fosters this ability and how it is fostered. Besides, the increasing interest in critical thinking popularized the question of how critical thinking could be adapted to other disciplines. In this study, the relationship between critical thinking and music education will be investigated. Hence the purpose of this study is to review the effects of music education on the students' critical thinking abilities in the light of literature. In addition, the teachers' role of guiding students to achieve critical thinking will be discussed. Finally, how to foster the critical thinking abilities of music students in the context of music education will be questioned and some suggestions will be made about the development of music students' critical thinking skills. (C) 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.