Basics of Curriculum

This chapter considers the basics of curriculum. It is concerned to overcome the taken-for-granted idea that “curriculum” is the sum total of activities and of ensemble concert literature. Therefore, it particularly distinguishes a “curriculum,” as described in the following pages from a “program.” It provides accounts of four different kinds of curriculum: formal (written) curriculum, instructed (or “delivered”) curriculum, action (learned praxical) curriculum. Also covered is the unavoidable conditions in each school and class or the “hidden curriculum.” A substantial critique of “methodolatry” and ‘delivery methods’ follows to establish two basic themes visited often in the rest of the text. Finally, an overview of the following chapters is offered.