Michael Dartsch is presenting here a didactics claiming to be valid for artistic music-making in general, applying thus to instrumental instruction as well as to elementary music pedagogy. The question currently being discussed is whether instruction can enhance artistic procedures, or whether on the contrary it hinders them. The thesis is elaborated that artistic developments can be encouraged given that instructions are based on certain principles. Here, a concept is introduced that can serve as a teaching basis.

Questions dealing with general didactics, together with the social and ethical dimensions of the instruction, are followed initially by content-related specifications of the subjects Instrumental Education and Elementary Music Practice. Next, considerations are given on goals, contents of artistic music instruction and finally on methods. The results are located in the professional discourse. A series of practical examples illustrates the implementation of the results. Hence, the book is aimed at students and teachers alike.