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‘To every thing turn turn turn’: a commentary on new materialisms in (early childhood) music education

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 May 2025

Susan Young Open the ORCID record for Susan Young [Opens in a new window]
Susan Young*
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Centre for Research in Early Childhood, Birmingham, England
*
Email: susanyoung351@gmail.com
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Abstract

At present, in music education scholarship, there is a renewed interest and enthusiasm in materiality motivated by theories that gather under the title of ‘New Materialism’. Beyond the field of music education, doubts and reservations towards new materialism are being discussed, but these discussions are not yet entering music education debates. There are reservations concerning the lack of continuity with ‘old’ materialisms, some internal inconsistencies within the theories, problems that arise when new materialist concepts of agency and decentring are applied, and propositions that new materialism is not emancipatory, as claimed, but represents a further twist of Neoliberalism.

Keywords

New materialismearly childhoodmusic educationmusical agency

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British Journal of Music Education , First View , pp. 1 - 13
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© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press

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