MUSIC EDUCATION AND POPULAR CULTURE: articulating music teaching in public basic education schools through the lens of heritage education
Music education; Popular culture; Intangible cultural heritage; Heritage education; Congos de Combate.
This study is situated in the field of Music Education and investigates the possibilities of articulating music teaching, popular culture, and intangible cultural heritage through heritage education within the context of basic education. It is based on the understanding that traditional cultural practices constitute forms of knowledge production, memory, and identity, playing a fundamental role in the cultural formation of individuals. The empirical object of the study is the Congos de Combate from São Gonçalo do Amarante (RN), an Afro-Brazilian cultural manifestation that integrates music, dance, religiosity, and oral tradition. Methodologically, the research adopts a qualitative and interventionist approach, grounded in action research, involving participant observation and the implementation of a didactic sequence. The results indicate that the inclusion of popular culture in music education, mediated by heritage education, promotes meaningful learning, strengthens cultural identity, and enhances the relationship between school and community. It is concluded that valuing intangible cultural heritage in the school context contributes to the development of critical, contextualized, and culturally responsive pedagogical practices.