The Ideology of Competition in School Music examines competition as a fundamental force in music education, critiquing its pervasive influence from various philosophical and theoretical angles. Many educators and students perceive competition as an inherent part of music education, rather than a choice. This book reveals the ideological nature of competition and its impact on student learning, teacher agency, and equity in music education. It encourages music educators to rethink competition's role in their practices and suggests alternative frameworks for organizing school music. Author Sean Robert Powell positions competition as a reflection of neoliberal capitalist society, where individuals navigate an antagonistic competitive landscape shaped by market logic, accountability, and audit culture. Teachers, students, and administrators often reinforce this competitive structure, even while expressing skepticism about it. Powell explores competition in various forms, including formal school competitions, ratings at festivals, honor ensembles, hierarchical structures within programs, and the pursuit of social prestige and high performance standards. While the book focuses on the competitive environment in U.S. school music, particularly in Texas, its insights are applicable globally. The influence of neoliberal capitalism on education is a widespread phenomenon, affecting how competitive achievement is viewed across different
