“CONSIDERABLE STRESS and MISERY”: A first-year music teacher’s experiences

2018 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-98
Author(s):  
David A. Stringham ◽  
Alden H. Snell
Keyword(s):  
Music Education ◽  
Instrumental Music ◽  
Music Teachers ◽  
Hierarchical Structures ◽  
Early Career ◽  
Music Teacher ◽  
Future Research ◽  
First Year ◽  
Instrumental Music Education ◽  
Based Instruction

Preparing, inducting, mentoring, and retaining new music teachers remain concerns in our profession. This article began as a study of first-year music teachers who made regular entries in secure electronic journals and participated in mid- and end-of-year interviews. We initially sought to understand these new teachers’ experiences related to mentoring, professional development, collaboration, and standards-based instruction. Findings related to these topics were eclipsed, however, by challenging experiences that Elise, a first-year instrumental music teacher who participated in our study, reported. We used a narrative inquiry methodology to present Elise’s experiences in context of literature related to workplace incivility, gender, hierarchical structures, and emphasis on performance in instrumental music education. Based on findings, we offer recommendations for future research related to four stakeholder groups: pre-service teachers, early career in-service teachers, experienced in-service teachers, and administrators.

Instrumental Opportunities: Music for All

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 48-57
Author(s):  
Linda Thornton ◽  
Mara E. Culp
Keyword(s):  
Instrumental Music ◽  
Music Teachers ◽  
Music Teacher ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Music Teaching ◽  
Music Teacher Education ◽  
Inclusive Settings ◽  
Instrumental Music Teachers ◽  
Teacher Students ◽  
The Face

Although resources exist to help instrumental music teachers assist learners in inclusive settings, students’ voices may be absent from those resources. As such, music teachers may struggle to honor the needs and experiences of students with physical differences. Students with physical differences may be steered away from instrumental music or toward an instrument that may not be the student’s preference. The purpose of this study was to understand the stories of students with physical differences and their teacher to examine how participation in instrumental music was enabled in this setting. Data were generated through examining artifacts and completing interviews with the instrumental music teacher, students, and students’ parents. Interview data were analyzed using process/action coding. Main themes that emerged were (a) previous experiences and prior knowledge, (b) recognizing strengths and challenges, (c) perseverance toward desires in the face of uncertainty, (d) help and support from others, and (e) materials. Implications for future research and possible applications to music teaching and music teacher education are discussed.

scholarly journals Theoretical Framework for Facilitating Young Musicians’ Learning of Expressive Performance

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henrique Meissner
Keyword(s):  
Music Education ◽  
Instrumental Music ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Music Performance ◽  
Theoretical Framework ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Embodied Experience ◽  
Dialogic Teaching ◽  
Instrumental Music Education ◽  
Music Lessons

Since communication and expression are central aspects of music performance it is important to develop a systematic pedagogy of teaching children and teenagers expressiveness. Although research has been growing in this area a comprehensive literature review that unifies the different approaches to teaching young musicians expressiveness has been lacking. Therefore, the aim of this article is to provide an overview of literature related to teaching and learning of expressiveness from music psychology and music education research in order to build a new theoretical framework for teaching and learning expressive music performance in instrumental music lessons with children and teenagers. The article will start with a brief discussion of interpretation and expression in music performance, before providing an overview of studies that investigated teaching and learning of performance expression in instrumental music education with adults and children. On the foundation of this research a theoretical framework for dialogic teaching and learning of expressive music performance will be proposed and the rationale explained. Dialogic teaching can be useful for scaffolding young musicians’ learning of expressivity as open questions can stimulate thinking about the interpretation and may serve to connect musical ideas to the embodied experience of the learner. A “toolkit” for teaching and learning of expressiveness will be presented for practical application in music lessons. In addition, a theoretical model will be proposed to further our understanding of teaching and learning of expressive music performance as a multifaceted and interactive process that is embedded in the context of tutors’ and learners’ experiences and environment. Finally, implications of this framework and suggestions for future research will be discussed.

Status of Band and Orchestra Programs in North Carolina

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-65
Author(s):  
David S. Miller ◽  
Rebecca B. MacLeod ◽  
Jennifer S. Walter
Keyword(s):  
North Carolina ◽  
Public Schools ◽  
Music Education ◽  
Instrumental Music ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Instrumental Music Education ◽  
The North ◽  
Music Program ◽  
Teaching Responsibilities ◽  
K 12

The purpose of this study was to examine K–12 instrumental music education in North Carolina. Specifically, we investigated course offerings, teacher demographics, teaching responsibilities, and music program funding. We administered a survey to the members of the North Carolina Music Educators Association listserv who indicated band or orchestra as their teaching area. Participants identified themselves as teachers of orchestra ( n = 44), band ( n = 173), or a hybrid of both ( n = 17). Of schools that offered instrumental music, 95% offered band and 36% offered orchestra. More than 20% of orchestra teachers were “very likely to retire within 5 years.” The majority of teachers relied on fundraising to provide adequate music education for students. Results of this study were analyzed and compared to national averages reported in the Give a Note Foundation’s 2017 report: The Status of Music Education in United States Public Schools. Implications for orchestra teachers, music programs, music teacher preparation curriculum, and future research are discussed.

“I Love Knowing That What I’m Doing Has Purpose”: Male Instrumentalists Who Choose to Teach Elementary General Music

2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-64
Author(s):  
Heather Nelson Shouldice
Keyword(s):  
Music Education ◽  
Instrumental Music ◽  
Teacher Educators ◽  
Music Teacher ◽  
Teacher Preparation Programs ◽  
General Music ◽  
Preparation Programs ◽  
Collective Case Study ◽  
Instrumental Music Education ◽  
Elementary General Music

Few entering music education students plan to teach in an elementary general music (EGM) setting, and the majority of those who teach EGM are female and have vocalist backgrounds. The purpose of this collective case study was to examine six male instrumentalists’ decisions to pursue a career in EGM teaching rather than secondary instrumental music. Analysis of interview data revealed three emergent themes: (a) development of a new schema for EGM, (b) teacher beliefs and identity, and (c) tension between autonomy and the perceived “status quo” in traditional instrumental music education. Findings suggest music teacher educators should be aware of the power of “detracked” coursework in music teacher preparation programs as well as the factors that might influence individuals to choose a career in EGM teaching and/or deter them from choosing a career in secondary instrumental music teaching.

Instrumental Music Teacher Educators (IMTE)

2019 ◽  
pp. 140-160
Author(s):  
William I. Bauer
Keyword(s):  
Music Education ◽  
Instrumental Music ◽  
Teacher Educators ◽  
Music Teacher ◽  
Collaborative Group ◽  
Grass Roots ◽  
Instrumental Music Education ◽  
K 12 ◽  
University Settings ◽  
Instrumental Methods

The Instrumental Music Teacher Educators (IMTE) is an independent, grass-roots, collaborative group of collegiate music teacher educators and scholars who are committed to the advancement of instrumental music education in K–12 and university settings. This chapter describes the origins and evolution of the IMTE Colloquium for Teachers of Instrumental Methods over the first 12 years of its existence. Through seven biennial colloquia and related activities, IMTE has evolved into a community of practice where individuals come together to learn from each other, developing their personal and collective understanding about traditional and emerging topics through cooperative interactions that have resulted in ongoing professional and personal relationships.

scholarly journals “I’m Doing the Best I Can”: Teaching General Music in the Time of Covid-19

2022 ◽  
pp. 875512332110677
Author(s):  
Christa Kuebel ◽  
Elizabeth Haskett
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Educators ◽  
Music Teachers ◽  
School Administrators ◽  
Early Career ◽  
Music Teacher ◽  
First Year ◽  
General Music ◽  
Job Responsibilities ◽  
Personal Lives ◽  
Multiple Case

The purpose of this multiple case study was to examine the experiences of four elementary general music teachers (first year, early-career, mid-career, late-career) during the time of COVID-19. We considered impacts on the participants’ instruction and professional lives from data that were collected throughout the 2020–2021 academic year. Participants reported changes to their teaching environments, schedules, and job responsibilities. They shared the technology resources they implemented and highlighted inequities that emerged for virtual versus in-person students. Participants provided insight into the impacts of the year on their personal lives as well. Our implications include considerations for music teachers, music teacher educators, and school administrators as a result of participants’ experiences.

Courses for Secondary Instruments

2019 ◽  
pp. 344-363
Author(s):  
Molly A. Weaver
Keyword(s):  
Music Education ◽  
Music Teachers ◽  
Music Teacher ◽  
Promising Practices ◽  
Education Curriculum ◽  
Music Teacher Education ◽  
Teaching Activities ◽  
School Based ◽  
Secondary Instrument ◽  
Institutional Model

The main purpose of this chapter is to synthesize the literature regarding courses for secondary instruments in the interest of making recommendations for promising practices. The chapter also is intended to “push boundaries from within the system” of music teacher education. That is, it is intended to be a resource for those who prepare preservice music teachers (PMTs) for the realities of P-12 school-based music education and who aspire to instill in these new colleagues a disposition toward change. The chapter is divided into six sections: importance of secondary instrument courses, characteristics and configurations of secondary instrument courses, focus and content of secondary instrument courses, peer teaching activities and field experiences within secondary instrument courses, recommendations for promising practices (including professional development beyond the preservice music education curriculum and an institutional model for secondary instrument courses), and future considerations.

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.

Pre-service music teachers' satisfaction: person–environment fit approach

2012 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 371-385 ◽  
Author(s):  
Serkan Perkmen ◽  
Beste Cevik ◽  
Mahir Alkan
Keyword(s):  
Music Education ◽  
Music Teachers ◽  
Music Teacher ◽  
Theoretical Frameworks ◽  
Vocational Satisfaction ◽  
Highly Correlated ◽  
Service Music ◽  
And Control ◽  
Future Work

Guided by three theoretical frameworks in vocational psychology, (i) theory of work adjustment, (ii) two factor theory, and (iii) value discrepancy theory, the purpose of this study was to investigate Turkish pre-service music teachers' values and the role of fit between person and environment in understanding vocational satisfaction. Participants were 85 students enrolled in the department of music education in a Turkish university. The Minnesota Importance Questionnaire (MIQ) was used to examine the participants’ values in six dimensions: achievement, comfort, status, altruism, safety and autonomy. Results revealed that the pre-service teachers value achievement most followed by autonomy, which suggests that they would like to have a sense of accomplishment and control in their future job. The degree to which their values fit their predictions about future work environment was found to be highly correlated with vocational satisfaction. These results provided evidence that the vocational theories used in the current study offers a helpful and different perspective to understand the pre-service teachers' satisfaction with becoming a music teacher in the future. We believe that researchers in the field of music education may use these theories and MIQ to examine the role of values in pre-service and in-service music teachers' job satisfaction.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document