Over the last decade a shift has occurred in Australia from an outcomes-based approach to curriculum design and delivery to organizing curriculum delivered as essential learning(s). Curriculum is identified in terms of essential learning that specifies standards for student achievement. Schools have been encouraged to develop rich curriculum contexts that will achieve the relevant standards. This article explores the place of the arts, and in particular music, in an essential learning framework. The knowledge, skills and behaviours of all arts disciplines are described in the frameworks in generic language. The impact on the provision and delivery of music will be discussed. Factors under consideration include the practical application of teaching music in schools by generalist and specialist teachers and the challenges presented for the education of pre-service generalist teachers.