A brief review of the state of music education in the UK at the time of the creation of the "British Journal of Music Education" ("BJME") leads to a consideration of the range and focus of topics since the initiation of the Journal. In particular, the initial requirement of careful and critical enquiry is amplified, drawing out the inevitability of theorising, an activity which is considered to be essential for reflective practice. The relationship of theory and data is examined, in particular differentiating between the sciences and the arts. A "case study" of theorising is presented and examined in some detail and possible strands of future development are identified.