Music curriculum development and evaluation based on Swanwick’s theory

Abstract

The aim of this article is to describe the study that investigated the possibility of using Swanwick’s theory as a theoretical framework to develop and evaluate a music curriculum proposal for primary schools. This project was created based on the existing evidences that the spiral theory and model could be used to assess children’s musical products through composing, performing and listening. This study offers some theoretical and practical contributions for music education, especially to Brazilian schools and other countries that have such sharp differences between state and private education sectors. It raises the question of the adequacy of having one curriculum model that can attend such different realities, different ways of experiencing music outside schools that will reflect the way children relate to music, and their preference to one or more musical parameters.