Abstract: This is a reflective and comparative study of texts from the three main references, the portuguese poet Fernando Pessoa (1888 - 1935), the italian conductor Sérgio Magnani (1914 - 2001), based in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, in 1950, and the English music educator Keith Swanwick (1931). Some ideas of these authors – as well as of other writers and musicians – were analyzed and correlated directly with the practice and thinking about music and music teaching. The comparison process between the various ideas and events enabled the establishment of parameters, indicating reasons for the considerations made about the music and also on issues such as music teaching, development, performance, composition and appreciation.

Keywords: authors and ideas, comparative study, music and performances practices, music teaching.