Institutional Culture and Schools

There are many layers of culture that impact development and learning.  While we grow up we have affiliations with multiple institutions.  Most of us spend at least 12-15 years affiliated with one school or another.  I was a student for the majority of my first 40 years of life!  Schools teach important practices and support the development of cultural tools such as language, disciplinary content, and social/ emotional skills.  Content and curriculum are shaped by larger social and political agendas.   Individual school performance is also shaped by personal factors.  In his book entitled, The Culture of Education, Bruner stated, “Life in culture, is then, an interplay between the versions of the world that people form under its institutional sway and the versions of it that are products of their individual histories.” (1996, p. 14)

School experiences, ranging from pre-school to higher education, shape our development.  The school is guided by larger structures, but it is also our own uniqueness that influences our responses. I started playing in the school band in fifth grade.  I played the flute because that was the instrument that was available in our home.  I enjoyed playing the flute, but secretly always wished for something different.  When I went into band my freshmen year of high school, the director had a list of instruments on the chalk board that the band needed.  The deal was, if you agreed to learn the new instrument the school would give you a loaner and the director would give you some extra lessons to get started.  That moment I became an oboist!  I have often reflected on this day.  I believe my change of instruments made it more likely for me to go to college and receive scholarship support.  My experience of music changed as there is a very different perspective when you are one of a few rather than one of many in the band. 

My experiences in band greatly shaped my life and lead me to my career in music therapy.  I had the opportunity to go to a high school that valued arts experiences and had the resources to provide loaner instruments.  It was my personal desire to try something new that lead me to the change.  I was also fortunate to have a family that provided me with so much support.    The practices of our cultural contexts are often subtle, but they have the potential to be truly life changing.  In this case, the interplay between my school, family, and individual factors altered the course of my development.