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Title:InTheSpiritofCooperationandMutualUnderstanding

Author(s):MannyBrand

Source:Brand,M.(1993,Fall).Inthespiritofcooperationand

mutualunderstanding.TheQuarterly,4(3),p.3.(ReprintedwithpermissioninVisionsofResearchinMusicEducation,16(4),

Autumn,2010).Retrievedfromhttp://www-usr.rider.edu/~vrme/

It is with pleasure that we inaugurate the reprint of the entire seven volumes of The

Quarterly Journal of Music Teaching and Learning. The journal began in 1990 as The

Quarterly. In1992,withvolume3,thenamechangedto TheQuarterlyJournalofMusic

TeachingandLearningandcontinueduntil1997.Thejournalcontainedarticlesonissues

thatweretimelywhentheyappearedandarenowimportantfortheirhistoricalrelevance.

For many authors, it was their first major publication. Visions of Research in Music

Educationwillpublishfacsimilesofeachissueasitoriginallyappeared.Eacharticlewillbe

aseparatepdffile.JasonD.Vodickahasacceptedmyinvitationtoserveasguesteditorfor

the reprint project and will compose a new editorial to introduce each volume. Chad

Keilmanistheproductionmanager.IexpressdeepestthankstoRichardColwellforgranting

VRMEpermissiontore-publishTheQuarterlyinonlineformat.Hehasgraciouslyprepared

anintroductiontothereprintseries.

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InTheSpiritOfCooperation AndMutual UnderstandingEditorial ByManny Brand

Soutbwest Texas State University

Why was I attracted to themysteri-ous land of Russia? Was it theintrigue of visitingwhat Presi-dent RonaldReagan called "theevil em-pire"? Was itbecause my grandparentswere born inKiev? Was it the need tocompare myperceptions to the newsmedia's negative images of Soviet life?Above all, I wondered about theplace ofmusic education inan economcally andpolitically troubled country.Inmyvisitsto Russia, I found aplace ofspectacular architecture and marvelous ar-tisticachievement. I also found the eco-nomc problems pervasive-a deterioratinginfrastructure, anearly worthless ruble,empty shelves, and long lines. A recurringtheme of lifewas aconstant fear of foodshortages.The longest queue was not for bread,however, but for concert tickets. I saw

hundreds of Russiancitizens, young andold, some shabby, others smartly dressed,clutching afew ruble notes while eagerlywaiting infront of stunningly beautifulconcert halls. Herewere people whosezeal for the arts, particularly music, isun-matched byAmericans. I kept recallingthe old saying that all Russianshave thesouls of artists.I began wondering about music educa-

tion inacountry that has anear third-world economy, but afirst-world interestinculture. This fascination for Russianmu-siceducation ledmetomeet GennaclyPozhidayev, editor of Russia'smost impor-tant music education journal, Music inVolume IV, Number 3

Schools, recently renamed Art at School.Wetalked about music education, ex-changed gifts, and toasted our new friend-ship and common interests. I soon real-ized that Americanmusic educators knownext to nothing about school music in thisvast country. Soin the spirit of coopera-tion and developing mutual understanding,Gennady and I decided towork togetheras co-editors inproducing this special is-sue. Over the past three years, we contin-ued to correspond. When mail was lost ordelayed, we tried faxes and telegrams.Gennady and I even formed a"network"of friends who often relayed letters, manu-scripts, and messages of good will.The result ismore than aview of a

country's music education programs. Inaddition to outstanding articles byWesternauthors, this issueprovides arare portrayalby Russia's leading music educators of thehopes, prospects, and successes for musiceducation in the former SovietUnion. Weareprivileged to include in our pages rarephotographs that have never before beenpublished intheWest.This issue also serves citizens of the en-

tireworld in identifyingmusic educationconcepts that areof greatest importanceand the steps necessary to teach thoseideas to anew generation of students.Aboveall, thisissuehelps dispel the olddogmas and hostilitieswhile invitingus toconsider multiple possibilities for musiceducation inthis ever-changing, ever-shrinking world. ~

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