The Impact and Importance of Policy in the Lives of Music Teachers

2019 ◽  
pp. 3-26
Author(s):  
Patrick Schmidt
Keyword(s):  
Music Education ◽  
Policy Process ◽  
Complex Terrain ◽  
Music Teachers ◽  
Music Educators ◽  
The Impact

This chapter introduces the reader to the purpose of this book, which is to facilitate the development of a policy identity in the field of music education so that music educators can be confident contributors to the policy process. The chapter articulates the ways in which policy can be formal or informal, obvious or subtle, stated or unstated, implicit or explicit. It demonstrates that policy starts with ideas, exemplifying how we may impact the process of adopting, implementing, and assessing said ideas. It shows how policy’s purposes are manifold, with practices that are deeply contextual and linked to constituencies and their interests. It argues, at the same time, that the consequences of policy can be acutely felt and are ethically far-reaching. The chapter, in sum, introduces policy as a complex terrain but also highlights tools for action.

Policy as Practice

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Schmidt
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Music Education ◽  
Policy Process ◽  
Music Teachers ◽  
Educational Experiences ◽  
Music Educators ◽  
Educational Process ◽  
Professional Communities ◽  
Policy Practice ◽  
Policy Impacts

Policy as Practice: A Guide for Music Educators explores how policy impacts the lives of teachers, arguing that policy participation can matter greatly to how educational experiences are constructed. Articulating a progressive view of policy and its intersection with music education, the book helps the reader to see how policy as a concept and practice has permeated the deepest recesses of civil society and has had particular impact on the lives of those who are actively connected to the educational process. Indeed, for teachers, policy often evokes images of a forbidden or alien environment; it has been seen as above their pay grade, beyond their duties and responsibilities, or outside the reach of their capacities. Nothing, however, could be further from the truth. Challenging these assumptions, the book serves as a guide to those interested in the potential of policy and concerned with rethinking its meaning. Just as critically, it aims to help music teachers understand policy more broadly while providing doorways into policy practice. The goal is not to add policy conceptualization and practice to the myriad other requirements that befall teachers today. Rather, the book aims to position policy thinking and practice as already part of what they do and value, providing tools for music educators to own their place as participants and contributors to the policy process. The book offers a measured argument, providing conceptual and research-based findings in balance with practical exemplification, strengthening music teachers’ impact within learning and professional communities.

scholarly journals The well-being of music educators during the pandemic Spring of 2020

2021 ◽  
pp. 030573562110420
Author(s):  
Peter Miksza ◽  
Kelly Parkes ◽  
Joshua A Russell ◽  
William Bauer
Keyword(s):  
Music Education ◽  
Student Learning ◽  
Music Teachers ◽  
Teaching Efficacy ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Music Educators ◽  
Teachers Perceptions ◽  
Teaching Context ◽  
The Status ◽  
The Impact

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted many aspects of life, including the instructional practices of music educators. The purpose of this study was to examine music teachers’ well-being following the disruptions in schooling that resulted from the pandemic in the Spring of 2020. We also investigated how disruptions may have affected music teachers’ perceptions of their efficacy and the status of the profession. A questionnaire was completed by 2,023 music teachers who were members of the National Association for Music Education. We collected data related to (a) demographic and institutional information, (b) well-being, (c) teaching efficacy, (d) the impact of the pandemic upon the profession, and (e) the impact of the pandemic upon student learning. The questionnaire included the PERMA Profiler, a measure of well-being, and a portion of the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Both PK–12 and collegiate teachers reported significantly lower levels of overall well-being and significantly higher levels of depression than published norms. Additional analyses examined the relationship of individual difference and teaching context variables to the well-being measures, perceptions of teaching efficacy, and perceptions of the pandemic’s impact on student learning.

Developing Effective Dispositions for Teaching Music

2019 ◽  
pp. 321-344
Author(s):  
Michael Raiber
Keyword(s):  
Music Education ◽  
Teacher Educators ◽  
Systematic Approach ◽  
Music Teachers ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Music Teacher ◽  
Teacher Dispositions ◽  
Teacher Concerns ◽  
Teaching Music ◽  
The Impact

The impact of teacher dispositions on the professional development of preservice music teachers (PMTs) has been substantiated. This chapter describes an approach to dispositional development within the structure of an introduction to music education course. A teacher concerns model is used to organize this systematic approach through three developmental stages that include self-concerns, teaching task concerns, and student learning concerns. A series of 11 critical questions are presented for use in guiding PMTs’ dispositional development through these developmental stages. Activities to engage PMTs in the exploration of each of these questions are detailed for use by music teacher educators desiring to engage PMTs in dispositional development.

Creating Virtual Ensembles: Common Approaches from Research and Practice

2021 ◽  
Vol 107 (3) ◽  
pp. 38-46
Author(s):  
Christopher Cayari
Keyword(s):  
Music Education ◽  
Music Teachers ◽  
Music Educators ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Research And Practice ◽  
Music Production ◽  
Music Making ◽  
Teachers And Students ◽  
Online Music ◽  
Education Courses

A virtual ensemble is a digital musical product that uses multiple recordings edited together to form a musical ensemble. Creating virtual ensembles can be a way for music educators to engage students through online music-making. This article presents eight steps for creating virtual ensembles in music education courses and classrooms. The steps are (1) identifying objectives and desired outcomes, (2) selecting repertoire, (3) developing learning resources, (4) creating an anchor for synchronizing, (5) choosing a recording method, (6) setting up a collection platform, (7) editing in postproduction, and (8) distributing the product. As online music production becomes more prevalent, projects like virtual ensembles can provide creative and exciting experiences for music teachers and students, whether produced in the classroom or through remote means on the Internet.

Professional Development for the Experienced Music Educator: A Review of Recent Literature

2018 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 12-19
Author(s):  
Karen Koner ◽  
John Eros
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Music Education ◽  
Music Teachers ◽  
Recent Literature ◽  
Music Educators ◽  
Initial Examination ◽  
Professional Development Needs ◽  
Emerging Themes ◽  
Teachers Professional Development ◽  
K 12

There is a rich body of literature on professional development in music education, including research that has examined the professional development needs of experienced music teachers specifically. In fact, music teachers’ professional development needs may be affected by their degree of experience in the profession. The purpose of this literature review is to examine scholarship during the period 2007 to 2017 about the professional development needs of experienced K–12 music educators. Initial examination of literature in this area shows two emerging themes, including changing needs throughout the career and informal interactions among music educators, being highly effective.

scholarly journals Shaping Policy in Music Education: Music Teachers as Collaborative Change Agents

2020 ◽  
Vol 107 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-48
Author(s):  
Carlos R. Abril ◽  
Brent M. Gault
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Evaluation ◽  
Music Education ◽  
Student Learning ◽  
Music Teachers ◽  
Change Agents ◽  
Music Educators ◽  
Music Programs ◽  
Learning Standards

Music educators have experience working in education environments governed by shifting policies and mandates. How can music educators become agents empowered to shape, interpret, and design mechanisms for putting policy into practice? This article describes ways to understand policy and options for responding and contributing to its development and implementation. We examine how music educators have responded to two policy areas that have had a significant impact on music programs and teachers in recent years: (1) learning standards and (2) evaluation of student learning as a component of teacher evaluation. Examples in this article are meant to serve as a case in point for how music educators can become more responsive and actively engaged in policy matters.

scholarly journals A pile of drums: Putting theory into practice in culturally diverse music education

2019 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-92
Author(s):  
Jennifer Walden
Keyword(s):  
Music Education ◽  
Culturally Diverse ◽  
Music Teachers ◽  
Music Educators ◽  
Concert Band ◽  
Music Programs ◽  
Global Awareness ◽  
Global Perspectives ◽  
Experience Teaching ◽  
Challenging Situation

This article provides music educators with practical ways to (a) build school community through culturally diverse music and informal performances and (b) inculcate global perspectives into music programs (including concert band and choir) through culturally diverse music. In an autoethnographic style, the article tells a story that spans 2 years in a challenging situation: an international school in a country wrought with political and economic instability. It examines community building and inculcating global awareness from four perspectives. The first perspective reviews engagement in cultural diversity in music education through the lens of recently completed PhD research. It looks what scholars are writing about culturally diverse music education and how these ideas subsequently look in practice. Second, 30 years of personal experience teaching culturally diverse music are tied in, including ideas for student engagement in music classes. The third perspective includes practical ideas: how culturally diverse music can be integrated to broaden a program and rejuvenate interest in music. Finally, the fourth reveals responses from students experiencing learning through culturally diverse music. Examples, transcriptions, and recommended resources are included, leaving music teachers with useful, sustainable approaches for culturally diverse inclusivity.

Shame in Music Education: Starting the Conversation and Developing Resilience

2020 ◽  
Vol 106 (4) ◽  
pp. 36-42
Author(s):  
Mara E. Culp ◽  
Sara K. Jones
Keyword(s):  
Music Education ◽  
Teacher Educators ◽  
Music Teachers ◽  
Music Educators ◽  
Music Teacher ◽  
Resilience Theory ◽  
Negative Behaviors ◽  
Beliefs And Practices ◽  
Teachers Beliefs ◽  
And Coping

Feelings of shame may contribute to music teachers and music teacher educators being unwilling to discuss needs and concerns for fear of being judged or seen as inadequate. Shame or fear of feeling shame can also lead individuals to withdraw or perpetuate negative behaviors. Although shame is often a natural part of the human experience, the diverse nature of the content in music education, the wide variety of learners in various music education spaces, and music teachers’ beliefs and practices can be sources of shame among music teachers. This article aims to start a conversation about shame in music education and help music educators and music teacher educators feel empowered to use shame resilience theory as a means of understanding and coping with feelings of shame.

Health and Wellness for In-Service and Future Music Teachers: Developing a Self-Care Plan

2019 ◽  
Vol 105 (4) ◽  
pp. 52-58
Author(s):  
Christa Kuebel
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Music Education ◽  
Stress Reduction ◽  
Music Teachers ◽  
Teacher Educator ◽  
Self Care ◽  
Music Educators ◽  
Care Plan ◽  
Health And Wellness ◽  
Teachers Experiences

Researchers have published an increasing number of reports about undergraduate music students suffering from depression, anxiety, and stress as well as of in-service teachers’ experiences with burnout. Whether an undergraduate music student, a teacher, or a teacher educator, those in our profession need to increase awareness of the prevalence of stress and mental health concerns in music education. Along with presenting information to increase mental health literacy, this article discusses the use of self-care as a form of stress reduction among current and future music educators.

Music Teacher Education and Students with Autism

2020 ◽  
pp. 199-208
Author(s):  
Alice M. Hammel ◽  
Ryan M. Hourigan
Keyword(s):  
Music Education ◽  
Music Teachers ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Music Educators ◽  
Music Teacher ◽  
Music Teacher Education ◽  
Knowledge And Skills ◽  
Education Community ◽  
Students With Autism ◽  
Department Of Music

As of the publication of this book, 1 in 59 children are diagnosed with autism. Therefore, it is most likely that music teachers will teach a student who is challenged by Autism Spectrum Disorder. It is well known throughout the music education community that often preservice music educators receive knowledge and skills through coursework outside the school or department of music. This chapter is designed to provide the tools and structure for music teachers to learn through well-crafted fieldwork experiences that include time in class with students on the spectrum.

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