Which educator is associated with a philosophy that emphasizes the activity of making music over the feeling and views the teacher as a mentor and expert musician, with the student as an apprentice?

• A. David Elliot
• B. Phyllis Weikart
• C. Edwin Gordon
• D. Comprehensive Musicianship through Performance

Answer: (A)

David Elliott’s approach centers on learning through actively making music. He argues that real music education happens when students engage in authentic musical activity—performing, improvising, composing, and listening—guided by a teacher who is a knowledgeable musician and mentor. In this view, the teacher models craft and guides the student as an apprentice, helping them develop practical skills and musical understanding through hands-on practice rather than focusing primarily on feelings or emotional response. This emphasis on the doing of music and on mentorship explains why this choice best fits the described philosophy.