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Music, Dialogue, and Empathy: Theories of Peacebuilding in Choral Education and Beyond

pathy, and creative collaboration, choral educators can 1998).
cultivate harmonious ensembles where conflicts serve 6 Lisa Schirch, The Little Book of Strategic Peacebuilding (Inter-
as opportunities for growth and connection. Through course, PA: Good Books, 2004), 22-23.
purposeful exercises and activities, choir directors can 7 Felicity Laurence, “Music and Empathy,” in Music and Con-
empower students to navigate conflicts with grace, un- flict Transformation, ed. Olivier Urbain (London: I. B. Tau-
derstanding, and resilience, laying the foundation for a ris, 2015), 14.
safer and more inclusive musical community that strives 8 Johan Galtung, “Peace, Music and the Arts: In Search of
for balanced power through equity and giving an oppor- Interconnections,” in Music and Conflict Transformation, ed.
tunity for all to have a voice. Olivier Urbain (London: I. B. Tauris, 2015), 60.
As we reflect on the intersections of music, empathy, 9 Benjamin Bergey, “Music and Peacebuilding: A Survey of
and dialogue, we are reminded of the inherent capac- Two Israeli Ensembles Using Music and Dialogue to
ity for positive change within each of us. Through in- Build Understanding, Empathy, and Conflict Transfor-
tentional practice and collective action, we can harness mation” (DMA diss., James Madison University, 2019),
the transformative power of music to build common 7-8.
ground, foster understanding, and build better group dy- 10 Lisa Schirch, Strategic Peacebuilding, 49-50; John Paul Leder-
namics. In choral education and beyond, let us embrace ach, The Little Book of Conflict Transformation, 21-22; Lesley
the journey toward peacebuilding, one note at a time. J. Pruitt, Youth Peacebuilding, 71, 217.
11 Lesley J. Pruitt, Youth Peacebuilding, 17.
12 Two such examples include: Arthur Hull, Drum Circle Fa-
NOTES cilitation: Building Community Through Rhythm (Santa Cruz,
CA: Village Music Circles, 2007); and Kalani, Together in
1 Examples include: Michael Shank and Lisa Schirch, “Stra- Rhythm: A Facilitator’s Guide to Drum Circle Music (Van Nuys,
tegic Arts-Based Peacebuilding,” Peace & Change 33, CA: Alfred Music, 2004).
no. 2 (April 2008); Sarah Beller, “Sowing Art, Reaping 13 https://www.musicianswithoutborders.org/
Peace: Toward a Framework for Evaluating Arts-Based 14 https://hub.institute.min-on.org/
Peacebuilding” (MA thesis, American University, 2009); 15 Olivier Urbain, ed. Music and Conflict Transformation: Har-
Shoshana Gottesman, “Hear and Be Heard: Learning monies and Dissonances in Geopolitics (London: I. B. Tauris,
With and Through Music as a Dialogical Space for Co- 2015).
Creating Youth Led Conflict Transformation,” Voices: A 16 One example is the Music and Peacebuilding major at East-
World Forum for Music Therapy 17, no. 1, https://voices. ern Mennonite University (where the author teaches).
no/index.php/voices/rt/printerFriendly/857/749, There are also courses specific to incorporating musical
2017; Lesley J. Pruitt, Youth Peacebuilding: Music, Gender, and training within peacebuilding contexts, ending in an in-
Change (Albany, NY: State University of New York Press, ternship and senior project of their choice. Another ex-
2013). ample is Elizabethtown College, which offers a master’s
2 Johan Galtung, “Three realistic approaches to peace: peace- of education program that focuses on peacebuilding and
keeping, peacemaking, peacebuilding,” Impact of Science social-emotional learning. Some universities are adding
on Society 26, no. 1/2 (1976). courses in music and peace, such as Berklee College of
3 Rob Jenkins, Peacebuilding: From Concept to Commission (New Music.
York, NY: Routledge, 2013), 18-21; and John Paul Led-
erach and Angela Jill Lederach, When Blood and Bones Cry
Out: Journeys Through the Soundscape of Healing and Reconcili-
ation (New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2010).
4 John Paul Lederach, The Little Book of Conflict Transformation
(Intercourse, PA: Good Books, 2003), 10-14.
5 Christopher Small, Musicking: The Meanings of Performing and
Listening (Middletown, CT: Wesleyan University Press,

14 CHORAL JOURNAL November/December 2024 Volume 65 Number 4