Music Education in the Context of School Modernization in Croatia during the 19th century

The aim of this paper is to demonstrate to what extent the legislative efforts for the modernization of the school system in Croatia during the 19th century influenced the development of music education in elementary schools. The need for the state to regulate education became increasingly pronounced during the 18th and 19th centuries, leading to the enactment of key legislative documents during the period that had a considerable effect on the school system, and as such served as a foundation upon which the modern education as we know it today was built. The importance of the documents analysed is observed not only through the lens of shaping the school system but also in the context of music education. This opened the door for music educators of various profiles to strive for the improvement of music teaching. Initially, music education was limited to singing activities, but soon debates emerged about whether singing was sufficient and whether other elements of music education should be incorporated into the curriculum. These debates are followed through publications in professional journals, as well as through the analysis of textbooks and teaching materials that were created and used in music education during the 19th century.