What is the emphasis in David Elliott's philosophy of music education?

• A. Emotional expression as the only goal
• B. The activity of making music and skill development
• C. Passive listening to recordings
• D. Music literacy and theory alone

Answer: (B)

David Elliott’s philosophy centers on learning through making music. Students develop what’s called musicianship by actively engaging in authentic musical activities—singing, playing instruments, improvising, composing, and performing—through which musical skills grow in meaningful contexts. This emphasis on active music-making explains why skill development isn’t just a byproduct but a core part of the learning process. The other approaches miss that primary focus: emotional expression alone narrows the purpose, passive listening treats learning as a passive activity, and focusing only on literacy and theory isolates understanding from real musical practice. In Elliott’s view, the blend of making music and developing practical skills drives deep, transferable musical understanding.