The aim of this article is to analyze discourse from historically pertinent policy and strategic documents of the Norwegian Schools of Music and Performing Arts, in order to explore the nature of the intractable discrepancy between curriculum, policy, and practice. Popular music has long been part of Norwegian compulsory-school and higher music education. Yet, the national system of extra-curricular schools of music and performing arts seems to lag somewhat behind in this development, despite an overall inclusive policy. The analysis seeks to find reasons for this situation by looking into what forms of musical styles and genres, teaching and learning approaches, and teacher professionalism that have been emphasized in curricular documents throughout the past 30 years. The situation is also explored from the macro-level, drawing on recent work which articulates the specific policy and political conditions of the school system in question. The concluding discussion focuses on how the challenges of the Norwegian schools of music and performing arts can be approached through music teacher education. Overall, this example is used as a microcosmic view of a teacher professional development issue which has global applicability and transferability; divergence between inclusionary policies and exclusionary practice is not unique to Norway.