USING THE MUSIC OF THE BEATLES, LED ZEPPELIN AND QUEEN IN MUSIC EDUCATION: ENHANCING AESTHETIC TASTE AND MUSICAL LITERACY THROUGH ROCK
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Abstract
This article examines the pedagogical potential of integrating the music of The Beatles, Led Zeppelin and Queen into formal music education as a means to develop students’ musical literacy, stylistic awareness and aesthetic judgment. Rather than treating rock repertoire as “entertainment” outside the academic canon, the paper argues for its use as a rich educational resource for teaching musical form, harmony, rhythm, texture, arrangement, studio production, ensemble skills and critical listening. Through analytical listening, comparative score study, performance-based tasks and reflective discussion, students are guided to move beyond passive consumption of popular music toward informed evaluation and conscious artistic choices. A structured methodology is proposed in which the selected bands function as three complementary models: songcraft and innovation in The Beatles, riff-based structure and sound aesthetics in Led Zeppelin, and multi-layered vocal/instrumental dramaturgy in Queen. The approach is adaptable for secondary and higher music education, including classical and popular music departments.
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References
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