The Teaching of Music in Spain (1823-1932), a work by Olga María Toro Egea, is part of research conducted by the author on music education in Spain during the 19th century, both in the school setting and in private instruction, and addresses a topic that, although fascinating, remains unknown to numerous sectors of society despite its relative historical proximity. The book is divided into three parts, all of which include numerous documentary illustrations.
The first part addresses the steps of music education (1823-1858), with three chapters dedicated to the institutionalization of music in Spain, singing and play in music manuals, and music methods for private instruction. The second part addresses the development and consolidation of music teaching (1858-1890) and consists of four chapters that describe the music education that Spanish children receive in preschools, teacher training as well as the music curriculum in elementary schools and materials in use. Finally, the methodology arriving from Europe and its extrapolation to Spanish education is analyzed.
The final part presents the new directions of music pedagogy in the Spanish educational reality of the first third of the 20th century (1890-1932) with respective chapters focused on this commitment to improving music education, Jacques Dalcroze’s eurhythmics in Spain, and finally, folk song and the curative value of music. All of this makes this work, published by the Publications Service of the University of Córdoba, a valuable reference for any music educator who wishes to document and ground their teaching at any educational level, being furthermore highly recommended for teacher training.
Along with the conclusions, valuable documentary bibliography is included as well as a list of documents by authors that contributes to better handling of the volume which, although framed in the Spanish socio-educational context, has special references to Córdoba and Andalusia where the author carries out her work as a professor at the University of Córdoba.
