Differentiation in Music Education

This groundbreaking book equips music teachers with practical strategies for supporting inclusive, student-centered music classrooms by integrating differentiation and praxial music education.

Every music classroom includes students with a wide range of learning profiles, including those with identified and unidentified neurodivergence, mental health challenges, and diverse cultural and social backgrounds. Differentiation in Music Education: An Inclusive Approach for the Neurodiverse Classroom explores how music educators can create inclusive, student-centered learning environments that support all learners. Rooted in the principles of differentiation and praxial music education, this book challenges traditional deficit-based models and instead embraces a strengths-based framework that values the diverse ways students engage with music.

Drawing on research in neurodiversity, inclusive education, and praxial music pedagogy, Susan Raponi provides practical strategies for adapting instruction, assessment, and classroom design to meet the needs of all students. By centering the role of musical identity, readiness, and learner preferences, the book offers a flexible and multimodal approach that allows students to explore music through varied pathways.

Educators will learn how to implement differentiation strategies that extend beyond simple accommodations. The book investigates the Four Pillars of Differentiation in Music Education (DIME) - Musical Environment, Musical Understanding, Progressive Assessment, and Musical Praxis - as a foundation for creating classrooms where all students can thrive. It also examines how neurodiversity is currently understood in music education, addressing gaps in teacher training and offering new curricular perspectives. By shifting the focus from remediation to innovation, it provides a roadmap for fostering meaningful, creative, and differentiated learning experiences that honor the potential of every student.

Susan Raponi is Director of Music Education at Carnegie Mellon University, where she leads a visionary research program focused on curriculum innovation and inclusive music pedagogy. A specialist in differentiation and praxial music education, Raponi mentors developing scholars and future teachers while overseeing the graduate and undergraduate music education program. She is a distinguished recipient of Canada's Prime Minister's Award for Teaching Excellence.