| Nonprofit arts organizations are transforming music education in the United States through the development and implementation of arts education programs. This dissertation examines the daily management of arts education programs by arts administrators and the implications of their decisions on music education. It is through administrative processes and decisions that nonprofit arts institutions are forming their own niche in music education. To understand the way arts administrators make decisions regarding educational philosophies, curriculum, pedagogy and access to programs---decisions that shape music education in communities---I use an ethnographic approach that includes observation, participation, interviews, and an examination of primary source documents. My analysis uses insights from within the fields of ethnomusicology, arts administration, and music education. I closely examine multiple frames of reference that influence administrative decision-making in arts education, such as corporate sensibilities, a service orientation and dedication to work in the arts. To illustrate these concepts, I look at the case of the Carnegie Hall Education Department in New York City in the context of organizational culture, and the influence of arts organization expectations, funding sources, and school needs in the development of arts education programs. Central to my discussion is the recurring theme of the negotiation of practical concerns, centered on business and administrative issues, with those of a more profound nature, dealing with educational philosophies and artistic choices. |
