Examining Elementary General Music Teaching Practices Through a Reggio Emilia Lens

Abstract

Abstract Elementary general music teachers (N = 280) from Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Utah, and Wyoming completed the Characteristics of Elementary General Music Teaching questionnaire. Responses were analyzed for congruence between current teaching practices and three components of the Reggio Emilia Approach (REA) to education: child as protagonist, documentation of learning, and the hundred languages. Overall, respondents described teaching practices that reflect some, but limited, congruence with the REA. Teachers collect some types of student artifacts, display evidence of student learning in certain forms, adapt instruction based on observation of students, provide students opportunities to translate between symbolic systems, and demonstrate a student-centered approach to music education by modifying their teaching practices at the student, class, grade, or developmental level. Variance in the congruence between teaching practice and the concepts of documentation and symbolic translations could not be explained by education level or general music pedagogical influence. Suggestions are shared for elementary general music teachers to engage in critical self-reflection of their teaching practice through a Reggio Emilia-inspired lens. The review of literature and this study demonstrate a need for further research on Reggio Emilia-inspired music education; suggestions are included.