Capital and music education: Analysis from controversy

Abstract

Capital is understood as material and symbolic elements that people value and accumulate, leading to social gaps because capital is not accumulated fairly and equitably in the population. The present study aims to analyse musical and sociomusical capital from the visions of capitalism and the Capitalocene, as they are based on the accumulation of all kinds of capital. In this regard, a deductive analysis is carried out from the constant comparative method, which implies processes of categorisation and codification. Results display that music education is conceived as a producer and product of capitalism, as it has developed from private property, means of production and profit as a commercial incentive. It affects ecosystems concurrently, as the raw materials for musical activities are collected from nature. It is concluded that capitalism in music is not bad per se, as musical practices bring innumerable benefits to the development of the human personality and community life. However, there are also social losses because the systemic structure gives rise to inequalities, stereotypes and violence. Theoretical implications are presented that would serve to deepen the analysis.