Music Teachers Research Articles

National Estimates and Comparisons of Alternatively and Traditionally Certified Music Teachers in the United States

National Estimates and Comparisons of Alternatively and Traditionally Certified Music Teachers in the United States

Innovative Strategies of Tertiary Music Teachers in Teaching Musically-Challenged Students

This study focuses on the innovative strategies that tertiary music teachers (specialist music teachers and experts) employ to help musically-challenged students. Those who have trouble with rhythm, tonal acuity, music theory, and musical aptitude are operationally referred to as musically-challenged. Ten participants were selected through purposive sampling and responded to the interview questions using an interview guide. Thematic analysis was conducted on their responses to generate codes and themes in this investigation. This is a single case study that draws from constructivist and behaviourist learning theories. To help students who have difficulty with music, music and its related components should be valued as an essential part of the curriculum. Devoted teachers should authentically demonstrate all of the subject's contents using innovative teaching strategies, allowing students to immediately grasp the values to be inspired and confident in the subject. As a result, strategies such as identifying the weaknesses of the learners, informal instruction, collaborative learning, repetition, positive reinforcement in learning, technology integration, and patience have proven to be effective solutions to the case being studied.

Mentoring in the context of music teacher education: A systematic review

The preparation of music teachers represents a key factor within the educational framework. In a world in constant evolution, the need to integrate new training proposals that cater to different environments is of vital importance to strengthen music education. The aim of this study is to analyze the use of mentoring in the context of music teaching through a systematic review using PRISMA. Among the results, the main areas addressed by mentoring are observed, being centered around professional development and the accompaniment of both students and teachers who are new to teaching. The profile of the participants in the mentoring relationship (mentor-mentee) is detailed in the systematic review, being the formal models of mentoring, linked to an institution, the most widespread throughout the article. Among the main conclusions, the prominence of the USA in the research and development of mentoring programs is noted and the positive impact of mentoring in both formal and informal contexts is highlighted, emphasizing individualized and group mentoring for professional and personal development in higher education.

Common Errors in Manuscripts Submitted to the Journal of Music Teacher Education (JMTE)

Common Errors in Manuscripts Submitted to the Journal of Music Teacher Education (JMTE)

A Yin-Yang approach: Investigating students’ beliefs about teaching and learning in music among college students in Macau, China

This exploratory study aims to investigate the beliefs of college students in Macau, China, regarding teaching and learning in the field of music education, including factors influencing students’ views and their ideal music classroom environment. Employing a Rigorous Mixed Methods Framework that included surveys, observations, interviews, and reflective essays, a sample of ( n = 120). Chinese college students and ( n = 3) college music instructors were selected for participation. In the initial phase, findings revealed a nuanced perspective among students, demonstrating a stronger preference for the Constructivist Conception over the Traditional Conception. However, during the second and third phases, the findings revealed a preference for traditional and master-apprentice styles of learning in practice. Through the analysis of all three phases of research, this study unveiled a complex and juxtaposed ideology of music learning among Chinese students. While there was a misalignment between students’ ideologies and behaviors, they consistently expressed a desire for a more collaborative, creative, supportive, and open environment in which they can freely share their musical passion. Rather than adhering to a binary approach, the findings suggest the necessity of embracing a more nuanced “Yin-Yang” perspective in Macau.

“Once We Found Our Groove, . . .”: A Study of Preservice Music Teachers Engaged in a Popular Music Education Experience

The purpose of this intrinsic case study was to examine the perceived benefits and challenges of implementing informal learning practices through popular music education for preservice music teachers. Specifically, we sought to understand why and how preservice music educators would perceive benefits and challenges from their experiences in a modern band. We conducted a study with five preservice music teachers in a modern band outside of the curriculum in a music teacher education program. We collected the data for 9 weeks, gathering multiple interviews, participants’ written responses, artifacts, and researchers’ field notes. Three overarching themes emerged from the data analysis: (a) a self-navigating process of aural-based learning, (b) autonomy with freedom, and (c) reflective educators. Our findings indicated that the ultimate goal of informal learning practices in music teacher education may not be limited to mastering musical skills but should include improving problem solving and classroom decision making.

Reflection on Cultivating Students Appreciation Ability in College Music Teaching

As an important part of college art education, music plays a very good role in cultivating students artistic sentiment and emotion. In college music teaching, in order to further improve students music level, it is necessary for teachers to focus on cultivating students appreciation ability, and stimulate students emotional resonance to the works through appreciation and analysis of various excellent music works, so as to strengthen students music literacy in a deep level. Therefore, this paper mainly explores the strategies of cultivating students appreciation ability in college music teaching, hoping to provide some reference for the majority of college music teachers.

중등음악교사의 국악 수업 경험: 서양음악을 전공한 음악교사들의 국악 수업 실천

This study aims to explore the difficulties faced by music teachers with a background in Western music when teaching traditional Korean music (gugak) in schools and to draw educational implications from these findings. The study involved six middle school music teachers who majored in Western music, and data were collected through in-depth interviews and teaching materials provided by the teachers. The research participants' experiences related to Korean traditional music classes were explored by asking open-ended questions about what Korean traditional music classes were and what kind of teachers they wanted to become, and as a result, the experiences and perceptions related to teachers' professional formation were analyzed into five categories, 11 thematic groups, and 55 topics. In order to understand the nature of the difficulties in teaching Korean music, a music teacher who majored in Western music was selected as a case study and analyzed using a qualitative research method, and the results are as follows. First, during their university years before becoming teachers, the study participants who majored in Western music felt a sense of unfamiliarity when they first took a traditional Korean music (gugak) class. Second, the nature of the difficulties in teaching Korean music experienced by the participants in the study was not about knowledge, but about what to teach. Third, the study participants became teachers and worked tirelessly to overcome difficulties and implement good Korean music lessons. Fourth, the study participants' identity as music teachers who teach national music was naturally formed through their Korean music lessons.

교원 양성기관의 국악 교육과정 제안 - 사범대학 음악교육과 교육과정을 중심으로

This study seeks to enhance the quality of music teacher education programs in Korea with the goal of cultivating music teachers who can foster a strong sense of national cultural identity and global citizenship among Korean students. By analyzing the music education curricula of nine teacher training colleges in light of the 2022 revised national curriculum and the 2023 basic required courses and fields, this study identifies key challenges and proposes solutions. There are two main issues with the music education curricula in teacher training colleges. First, the courses on gugak do not align with the national curriculum standards, particularly regarding the required basic courses and fields. Second, there is a significant imbalance in the faculty composition of music education departments, with a disproportionately higher number of professors specializing in Western music compared to gugak. To address these issues, the following revisions to the music education curriculum in teacher training colleges are proposed. First, the curriculum should be overhauled to align with the Ministry of Education’s 2022 revised music curriculum and the 2023 basic required courses and fields. Second, the faculty composition of music education departments should be adjusted to reflect the appropriate balance between gugak and Western music as outlined in the national curriculum. Third, the Ministry of Education should implement stronger oversight of music teacher education curricula and faculty appointments to ensure that these proposed changes are effectively implemented.

Current Situation and Thinking of Contemporary National Music Teaching

National music, as an important carrier for inheriting and promoting the excellent culture of the Chinese nation, has distinct, unique and profound national characteristics and aesthetic education value. National music teaching demonstrates the value concept of educating people with beauty and people-oriented, which is the concentrated embodiment of the core value of art courses. Based on the analysis of the current situation of national music teaching in my country, this paper proposes to focus on the cultural literacy of music teachers, improve the construction of national music teaching materials, and enhance the status of music education in school education, etc., to optimize the countermeasures of national music teaching in the new era, and provide a practical path for the widespread dissemination and popularization of national music in school education in my country.

중등학교 기악 교육의 내용과 방법, 평가에 관한 실태 분석

This study aims to analyze the current state, perceptions, and demands related to instrumental education in secondary school music classes, which has been receiving increasing emphasis in recent years, in order to identify issues and discuss possible solutions. To achieve this, various literature on the content, methods, and assessment of instrumental education was reviewed. Based on this review, a survey tool was developed to examine the actual state and demands of instrumental education, and a survey was conducted among secondary school music teachers across the nation. Statistical analysis was performed on the responses from 63 participants. The analysis revealed that secondary school music teachers strongly recognized the necessity of instrumental education. As a result, it was found that the majority of class time in music lessons is devoted to instrumental education. Most teachers also perceived a high level of student participation in instrumental lessons and held a very positive view of instrumental education. However, instrumental education was mainly limited to solo instrument instruction, focusing on posture, techniques, and basic performance skills, while instrumental ensemble activities were not well implemented, despite teachers’ high awareness of their importance. The predominant teaching method involved teachers directly demonstrating through performance and using modeling as an instructional approach. However, teachers felt that their own performance skills were inadequate. In terms of assessment, it was found that the evaluation of artistic and creative expression was not being adequately conducted.

Methodological Combinations in Qualitative Research in Music Education: Autobiography and Grounded Theory

This article explores the theoretical and methodological approaches of (auto)biographical qualitative research and grounded theory, based on their historical and epistemological characteristics. This study in music education aimed to gain an understanding of the process of becoming a primary school music teacher. The Supervised Internship course in teacher education for a music degree was analyzed using the methodological and formative (auto)biographical dispositifs of the Biographical Project Workshop (Delory-Momberguer, 2006) and situational analysis (Clarke, 2005), constructed through the students’ oral, written, and musical narratives based on their experiences as music teachers in the public elementary schools. As a result of the methodological combination, it was found that the research procedure was a collaborative process between the researcher and the participants. This approach allowed for theorizing that did not decontextualize the trainees' narratives. It is recommended to consider using this combination with a postmodern perspective on grounded theory due to epistemological compatibility. Further exploration of the empirical field and reflexivity could contribute to the advancement of qualitative research methodology.

The Use of Cloud Platform Technology to Help University Music Teachers Teaching Decision-Making Research

With the COVID-19 pandemic, more and more universities are turning to online teaching, and music teaching is no exception. Because music teaching pays attention to the particularness of teachers' demonstration and students' imitation, the change of teaching environment from offline teaching to online teaching has a greater impact on the music discipline, which has new requirements for teachers' decision-making level. Through literature and questionnaires, this study identified that the most significant factor affecting teachers' decision making after the teaching environment was changed to online teaching was teacher-student interaction and designed a model to improve the interactive teaching of teachers through cloud platform technology. It is found that the model can effectively improve the interaction between teachers and students, so that teachers can make good decisions more easily and easily, so as to improve students' music scores and achieve effective teaching.

In-service teachers’ and pre-service teachers’ perceptions of interdisciplinary instruction combining music and mathematics

ABSTRACT This qualitative-phenomenological study explores the perceptions of in-service and pre-service teachers regarding the integration of music and mathematics in elementary education. Using interviews, audio recordings, questionnaires, and blog analysis, the research examines the effects of interdisciplinary teaching. The methodology adopted in this study provides a robust framework for analysis, facilitating a comprehensive exploration of the subject matter. Findings show positive views among four in-service mathematics teachers and one music teacher, who observed increased student engagement, motivation, and creativity. Additionally, 50 pre-service teachers expressed curiosity about this approach, emphasizing the need for better training and resources in teacher education. Despite initial concerns, teachers acknowledged the importance of collaborative planning and instructional support for interdisciplinary learning. This study highlights the potential of integrating music and math to enhance student outcomes and innovation in education.

A Training Person Need Analysis for Music Teachers Readiness to Teaching Music Vocational for Visually Impaired Student: A Review

Music vocational is a programme that provides students with work, networking and learning activities outside of school through music performance or other musical activities that encourage students to gain some experience in a music industry job setting. However, music vocational education is still developing and is currently trying to reach students with special needs through special schools. The standardised skills that are commonly used and developed in society need to be understood and practised by children with special needs, especially the visually impaired students. However, its programme some case not being executed by the relevant teachers background. This study aims to examine the need for relevant music teachers for the implementation of music vocational training programmes in special education settings. Literature study on this study to explain the standard specifications of music vocational education and training teachers and how to implement vocational or specialised music learning for visually impaired students. The qualitative data show that vocational music education requires teachers with at least two years' experience and knowledge of music and the music industry, as well as several strategies for teaching visually impaired students in vocational music programmes that are directed towards self-determination in preparation for possible future careers.

Kayanapussana Satipatthana and the Buddhist practices of Samadhi and Sati as foundational practices in the development of Thai musical skills

The Buddhist Vipassana technique of Kayanupassana Satipatthana is used to develop samadhi (concentration) and sati (awareness) in the practices of Thai classical music (dontri Thai) teachers working in a Thai primary school and the specialist music school in a Thai university. While previous studies have explored the use of mediation as a means of alleviating stress or spiritual progress, the techniques described here are adapted in this dontri Thai pedagogy to help musicians optimize learning and performing through the cultivation of concentration, awareness, and bodily control. Within this pedagogy, sharpened concentration leads to heightened awareness which allows greater insight into the students’ state of mind, musical sounds, and sensory feelings in their bodies. This enable performers to reproduce what is conceptualized as the “ideal” sound. Students commence musical training by practicing meditation while producing a single note, a short melody, or a technical skill. The task is repeated until the tripartite goal of mental and physical immersion and the production of the ideal sound is achieved. The four key components of the method are integrated within a holistic and iterative learning process in which the student progressively develops the ability to focus on all relevant elements in a single moment.

Research On the Development Path of Music Aesthetic Education in Colleges and Universities in the New Era Under the Background of Ideological and Political Curriculum

With the continuous development of quality education, the trend of thought of “five education simultaneously” has gradually penetrated people’s hearts. College music teachers need to actively explore the development of aesthetic education in music courses, and combine it with ideological and political education, give full play to the educational function, guide students to form a positive aesthetic consciousness, establish a correct aesthetic sense, and carry forward the fine aesthetic morality. This paper mainly analyzes the similarity and compatibility of ideological and political education and music aesthetic education, expounds on the current situation of college music fusion ideological and political education, and puts forward the teaching path of the integration of ideological and political education and music aesthetic education, which is only for the reference of relevant people.

MUSICAL EDUCATIONAL PRACTICES IN THE PANCHO VLADIGEROV HOUSE MUSEUM – SOFIA AND THE BORIS CHRISTOV MUSEUM

A visit to a museum can offer a range of benefits to students. This is also true of the Pancho Vladigerov House Museum in Sofia and the Boris Hristov Museum, which provide the opportunity to implement various musical and educational events. The direct engagement with historical documents and artifacts and the immersion in the creative atmosphere of the musicians' homes, provide students with a unique emotional experience. This experience fosters respect and reverence for art, while also promoting awareness of national identity and instilling a sense of pride. The museum acts as a mediator between music teachers in mainstream schools and professional musicians, facilitating contact between them in their common goal of educating, nurturing, and preparing children and young people for the concert halls.

Examining Cultural Identity in Secondary Music Classrooms: Perceptions of Teachers and Students

The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of secondary-level music teachers and students when teachers implemented cultural identity affirming activities for their culturally diverse students. The method of this qualitative study was a phenomenological interview design. Teachers ( n = 2) and students ( n = 6) were selected from a racially diverse suburban area in the southern United States. Participants recounted their past and present musical and cultural backgrounds to provide insight into how these identities are represented in their music classrooms. Data were collected an in-depth interview series where “meaning-making” was studied through recounting the lived human experience. Interview transcripts were analyzed to understand how participants aimed to respect cultural identities in the music classroom, while also identifying any power imbalances that could hinder these efforts. Findings revealed that teachers’ own cultural background affected their pedagogical decisions and how they provided culturally responsive music experiences for their students. Students shared the kinds of musical experiences they expected in their music classroom and how their cultural identities were being acknowledged in their music experiences. Students recognized culturally responsive environments when student input in programmed music was respected, community was built through acknowledgment of each other’s cultures, and when open discussion about one another’s cultures occurred.

Studying Abroad as a Means of Preparing Future Music Teachers in China

The concept of studying abroad as a means of preparing future music teachers in China has a rich and complex history, reflecting the nation’s evolving educational philosophies, political changes, and cultural exchanges. The purpose of this study is to present the genesis of using studying abroad as part of the professional training for future music teachers, detailing the goals and social mandates across various stages of Chinese state development. The article also draws attention to the organic "embeddedness" of such a means of training future music teachers in the Chinese system of professional and higher music-pedagogical education, especially of vocal practices that are not traditional for Chinese culture. Methodology. The study employs a historical-analytical approach, examining primary and secondary sources to trace the evolution of studying abroad as a practice for Chinese music educators. This includes an analysis of normative documents and policy papers available on official educational authority and institution websites. Additionally, qualitative data from interviews with contemporary music educators who have studied abroad provide insights into current practices and perceptions. The findings reveal that the practice of studying abroad for music education, primarily for personal music career development and secondarily for teaching, has been prevalent throughout Chinese history, and has undergone significant transformations over the past century. In the modern period, China continues to send a significant number of students abroad, supported by initiatives such as the China Scholarship Council and ‘One Belt – One Road’ Initiative. These programs facilitate grant support and promote cultural exchange and international cooperation, enriching the professional development of future music teachers in China. The study concludes that international educational experiences have profoundly impacted Chinese music education. Educators trained abroad have introduced diverse musical styles, innovative teaching methodologies, and a global perspective that enhance the learning experience of Chinese students. The integration of international practices has elevated the standards of music education in China, and gained global recognition. However, challenges remain in balancing traditional Chinese music with Western influences, and ensuring equitable access to international education opportunities. The study highlights the need for continuous adaptation and the development of strategies to address these challenges, ensuring that the benefits of studying abroad are fully realised in the Chinese educational context.