Familiarity with Basic Song Repertoire: Music Education/Therapy Majors versus Elementary Education Majors

Abstract

An audiotape of the tunes of 25 standard songs assumed to be known by everyone who has finished Grade 6 was played for 273 undergraduate music therapy and music education students and 306 elementary education students who were beginning a music skills class. Music majors identified significantly more tunes than did elementary education majors, but the means for both groups indicated that neither had developed a strong repertoire of standard songs outside the college classroom. Several songs that music educators have stated are very important for children to learn could not be identified by even half the students in either group. It is recommended that those preparing elementary education students emphasize building a song repertoire and that those teaching music therapy and education students consider adding this goal to appropriate courses.