A Critical Reflection on Virtual Music Education in a Changing World

Abstract

The outbreak of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 posed the greatest challenge that online training and teaching has experienced. This field was developing at an unequal pace in a series of different contexts and institutions, but went from being one of several possible methodologies to representing the only viable approach in view of the situation. The current study applies the methodology of bibliographical analysis to critically reflect on problems, benefits, and effects of the current tendency toward virtualization in the area of music education. Our results evidence that substantial, beneficial changes have already been achieved in the areas of the educational environment and tools, processes of motivation and learning, and the development of student socialization and interrelation strategies. However, to ensure that these results continue to provide the educational community with further benefits, it will be necessary to imply all social, governmental, educational agents involved, in order to offer teachers and students improved Information and Communication Technology (ICT) training along with new, concrete opportunities that bring about true educational change and innovation.