본 연구의 목적은 해방 이후 50년간의 한국 음악 교육이 어떤 모습으로 변해 왔는지 그 흐름을 짚어 보고, 그 반성적 회고를 토대로 하여 앞으로 우리 음악 교육이 나아가야 할 방향을 전망해 보고자 하는데 있다. 고찰의 내용을 `긍정적인 변화`와 `남은 과제들`의 관점에서 서술하였다. 긍정적인 변화의 면에서는 음악 교육의 목적, 음악 교육 전문인력, 음악 교육 이론, 교수-학습 방법, 그리고 국악 교육의 주제를 중심으로 논하였고, 남은 과제들의 면에서는 통합교과이론, 내신제도의 영향, 음악 교사 양성, 그리고 한국적인 음악교육론의 정립 등의 면에서 그 방향을 제시해 보았다. 보다 체계적이고 현실적인 음악교육론의 정립을 위해서는 음악 교육에 대한 역사적 철학적 고찰이 앞으로도 활발하게 지속되어야 할 것으로 판단된다.
The purpose of this study is to examine the past 50 years` history of Korean music education and to provide some suggestions for the future. This historical investigation was focused on several aspects: purpose and aims, profession(man power), theories, teaching methods of music education and Korean traditional music education. On the basis of the investigation, we might have some directions that should be improved in the future. First, Jeulgeo-un sangwhal, as an integrated subject since 1981, should be divided into three subjects(music, fine art, and physical education). During the past 20 years the integration theory of Korean school curriculum has been nearly lost its logical basis. Second, the result of music evaluation should be properly used on the Student Record. Excluding music grade from the college entrance exam is not a way to cut down the private money for education. Third, the system of music teacher education should be analyzed and enlarged in the teachers` colleges and schools of music. The members of schools of music need to employ more music education professors, and the Ministry of Education should examine and improve the systems of departments of music education. Lastly, music educators need to study and collaborate in order to establish `Koreanized` theory and method for an advanced music education. We need to try not only to understand foreign theories of music education but also to establish our own theory by concentrating on creative efforts of each music educator.