Participants included sociologists, scientists, labor leaders, educators, representatives of corporations, musicians, and people involved with other aspects of music.
Position papers had been published in the March and April 1967 issues of the Music Educators Journal.
The papers served as the bases for discussion at the 1967 MENC divisional conferences and for the Tanglewood Symposium.
The sessions were moderated by Max Kaplan, Wiley Lee Housewright (1913–2003), Allen P. Britton, David P. McAllester, and Karl D. Ernst.
Of particular importance, the Declaration called for music to be placed in the core of the school curriculum.