This essay emphasizes ways to raise the student interests and help students develop skills for analyzing music and music performances through the television program "American Idol." As music classrooms experience an increase in the number of students from a variety of cultures, valuing the music of all cultures becomes increasingly important.…

Discusses the perceptual effects of music on culture. Outlines the differences between "high" and "low" culture and attributes of popular culture. Concludes that the goal should not be to encourage students to listen to better music, but to listen to all music more intelligently. (CFR)