The Status of music in Jordan (Amman and Irbid as a model)

Abstract

This study aims to explore the status of music in Jordan from various perspectives: educational, social, and academic. It specifically focuses on the viewpoints of musicians, including students in Jordanian universities, academics involved in school and university education in both public and private institutions, and practitioners in civil society organizations. Additionally, it examines the perspectives of students' parents regarding music as a subject and their understanding of its importance and role in life. The study also highlightes the presence of refugees and their impact on the labor market and the musical movement in Jordan. The research employed an explanatory-interpretative methodology, revealing a lack of attention to early music education. It was found that most educational curricula used in Jordanian institutions are of foreign origin, despite the existence of a Jordanian music curriculum approved by the Ministry of Education. The study underscores the urgent need to establish a music school and to form a council composed of musicians and educators who support the idea of the school and are responsible for demonstrating its value, ensuring its sustainability, and securing support from relevant ministries, particularly the Ministry of Higher Education and the Ministry of Culture. The study concludes with a set of findings and recommendations intended to benefit stakeholders in the future.