How Popular Musicians Learn

Lucy Green is Professor of Music Education at the Institute of Education, University of London. Her other books include Music, Informal Learning and the School: A New Classroom Pedagogy (2008); Music, Gender, Education (1997) and Music on Deaf Ears (1988).

• Contents: Foreword, Robert Fripp; What is it to be musically educated?: Research methods; Concluding thoughts; Skills, knowledge and self-conceptions of popular musicians: the beginnings and the ends: The ’beginnings’; Professional musicianship: the ’ends’; Some self-conceptions of popular musicians; Learning to play popular music: acquiring skills and knowledge: The overriding learning practice: listening and copying; Peer-directed learning and group learning; Acquiring technique; Practice; Acquiring knowledge of technicalities; Summary; Attitudes and values in learning to play popular music: Discipline and osmosis; Enjoyment; Valuing musicianship; Valuing oneself; Attitudes to ’other’ music; Summary; Popular musicians in traditional music education: Classical instrumental tuition; Traditional classroom music education; Summary; Popular musicians in the new music education: Popular music instrumental tuition; The new classroom music education; Popular music in further and higher education; The musician’s views of popular music in formal education; Summary; The formal and the informal: mutual reciprocity or a contradiction in terms?: The neglect of informal learning practices in formal music education; Informal learning practices, attitudes and values: their potential for the formal sphere; What can teachers do?; Appendix: summary profiles of the musicians; Bibliography; Index.

’Dr Lucy Green's work deserves a wider readership than academics and music educators. How Popular Musicians Learn is inviting, accessible, and of direct practical interest to the working player in popular music, particularly those who also instruct students.’ Robert Fripp ’This is a significant and well-argued contribution, not only to the debate about the relationship between learning and teaching, but also to the understanding of the skills, motivations, and purposes that underlie popular music-making. Above all, it shows that 'love' of the music is the cornerstone on which all is built. We cannot engineer love in the classroom - but that is what we have to build on if we are really to reactivate music as the common participatory activity it once was.’ John Sloboda, University of Keele ’By looking at how popular musicians acquire their skills and knowledge, Lucy Green reveals important truths about music teaching and learning.’ Keith Swanwick, London University, Institute of Education '...[a] stimulating book...lucid analysis...thought-provoking.' Times Educational Supplement 'Lucy Green's latest book has been on the shelves for only a year or two, but already feels like a necessary part of music education literature... Returning to this book a year after I first read it, I have found new aspects of interest and value, as well as much which has quickly become familiar and helpful to educational discussion. Lucy Green has navigated the boundaries of academic disciplines and musical genres with great skill: I would recommend this book to any reader with an interest in musical learning...' Popular Music 'Lucy Green adds a valuable resource to the literature on music learning... a fascinating look at a musical world many classically trained musicians have not experienced. Green's ability to analyze and synthesize the data and her skillful writing allow the reader to better understand the motivation and learning habits of popular musicians...