For many, John Paynter has been the most significant figure in music education in Britain and beyond over the past 50 years. This collection of seminal writings embraces the core topics and values of music education and includes contributions from a range of publications, among them core text books and articles, as well as unpublished writings.

Sound and Silence (1970)
Music in a liberal education
Learning from the present
Silence
Exploring stringed instruments
From Hear and Now to All Kinds of Music (1972-9)
Today's music is for everyone
Autumn
The role of creativity in the school music curriculum
An interdisciplinary approach to music
The first sunrise
The small-group 'workshop'
Performing from indeterminate notation
The School Council Secondary Music Project (1973-82)
How did we get here?
Music in school and society
Interest from overseas
The pursuit of reality in music education
Keeping music musical: a British perspective
The composer as educator: things that matter
Strengthening the Theoretical Base (1990-2002)
Sounds out of silence
Wind song
The form of finality: a context for musical education
Making progress with composing
Music in the school curriculum: why bother?
Working on one's inner world
Selected Publications by John Paynter