Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-fscjk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T16:02:07.819Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Music Education and the Primary/Early Childhood Teacher: A Solution

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 December 2008

Margaret Barrett
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Music curriculum courses for generalist primary and early childhood teacher education students have tended traditionally to be heavily skill-intensive and instruction-based and reflective of the pedagogical methods of prominent music educators. In such learning experiences emphasis is generally placed upon the acquisition of skills dealing with notational and historical precedents and the development of some expertise in the areas of singing, playing and listening. Whilst these experiences provide students with valuable insights into traditional music education pedagogy, students who have a limited formal knowledge of music and who do not consider themselves to be musically articulate or literate frequently find such experiences alienating. Furthermore the teaching practices modelled through such programs tend to conflict with those advocated in other curriculum areas.

In an attempt to redress this situation an action research study was undertaken in which compulsory music curriculum units for generalist primary and early childhood teacher education students were re-developed to place compositional experience at the heart of the music education enterprise. In developing a theoretical and philosophical base for the pre-service music education units a number of educational strategies common in other curriculum areas were examined and adapted for use in the music education classroom.

Qualitative evaluation of the units has indicated that participating students whilst developing skills and knowledge in music and understanding of a range of teaching and learning strategies also perceive themselves to be more capable and confident as musicians.

Type
Research Article
Information
British Journal of Music Education , Volume 11 , Issue 3 , November 1994 , pp. 197 - 207
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1994

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Ball, S. J. (1988) ‘Participant Observation’ in Keeves, J. P. (Ed.) Educational Research, Methodology, and Measurement: An International Handbook. Oxford, Pergamon Press.Google Scholar
Barrett, M. (1992) ‘Music Education and the Natural Learning Model’ in International Journal of Music Education, No. 20, pp. 27–34.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Barrett, M. (1990) A Process Approach to Teacher Education: Music Curriculum Courses for Generalist Primary and Early Childhood Education Students, unpublished M.Ed. Dissertation, School of Education, Tasmanian State Institute of Technology, Launceston, Tasmania.Google Scholar
Biggs, J. B. & Collis, K. F. (1992) ‘Multimodal Learning and the Quality of Intelligent Behaviour’ in Rowe, H. A. H. (Ed.) Intelligence: Reconceptualisation and Measurement. Hillsdale, New Jersey, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Publishers.Google Scholar
Boud, D., Keogh, R. & Walker, D. (Eds) Reflection: Turning Experience into Learning. London, Kogan Page Ltd.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bunting, R. (1988) ‘Composing Music: Case Studies in die Teaching and Learning Process’ in British Journal of Music Education, vol. 5, No. 3, pp. 269–310.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cambourne, B. (1988) The Whole Story: Natural Learning and the Acquisition of Literacy in the Classroom. Auckland, Ashton Scholastic.Google Scholar
Christensen, R. S. (1981) ‘“Dear Diary": A Learning Tool for Adults' in Lifelong Learning: The Adult Years, vol. 5, No. 1, pp. 4–5.Google Scholar
Department of Education and The Arts (1991) Our Children: The Future- Teaching and Learning. Tasmania, Department of Education and the Arts.Google Scholar
Education Department of Tasmania (1985) Children and Language: Children, Language and the Arts. Hobart, Education Department of Tasmania.Google Scholar
Eisner, E. (1985) The Art of Educational Evaluation: A Personal View. London, Falmer Press.Google Scholar
Eisner, E. (1977) ‘On the Use of Educational Connoisseurship and Eduction Criticism for Evaluating Classroom Life’ in Teachers' College Record, vol. 78, No. 3, pp. 345–358.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Feathers, K. M. (1987) ‘Learning to Learn: Case Studies of the Process’, in Reading Research and Instruction, vol. 26, No. 4, pp. 264–267.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Galton, M. & Williamson, J. (1992) Group Work in the Primary Classroom. London, Routledge.Google Scholar
Gifford, E. (1993) ‘The Musical Training of Primary Teachers: Old Problems, New Insights and Possible Solutions’ in British Journal of Music Education, vol. 10, No. 1, pp. 33–46.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hair, G. (1990a) ‘An Interview with Doreen Bridges’ in Sounds Australian: Journal of Australian Music, No. 24, pp. 8–10.Google Scholar
Hair, G. (1990b) ‘The Coriservatoria: A View from the Lifeboats’ in Sounds Australian: Journal of Australian Music, No. 24, pp. 11–14.Google Scholar
Holdaway, D. (1979) The Foundations of Literacy. Gosford, Ashton Scholastic.Google Scholar
Jeanneret, N. (1993) ‘The Preparation of Secondary Music Teachers in New South Wales: Is it out of Step?’ in British Journal of Music Education, vol. 10, No. 1, pp. 47–55.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kemmis, S. (1988) ‘Action Research’ in Keeves, J. P. (Ed.) Educational Research, Methodology, and Measurement: An International Handbook. Oxford, Pergamon Press.Google Scholar
Postman, N. & Weingartner, C. (1969) Teaching as a Subversive Activity. New York, Dell Publishing Co. Inc.Google Scholar
Powell, J. P. (1985) ‘Autobiographical Learning’ in Boud, D., Keogh, R. & Walker, D. (Eds) Reflection: Turning Experience into Learning. London, Kogan Page Ltd.Google Scholar
Stake, R. (1975) Evaluating the Arts in Education: a Responsive Approach. Columbus, Charles E. Merrill Publishing Company.Google Scholar
Smith, F. (1988) Joining the Literacy Club: Further Essays into Education. London, Heinemann.Google Scholar
Swanwick, K. & Tillman, J. (1986) ‘The Sequence of Musical Development: A Study of Children's Composition’ in British Journal of Music Education, vol. 3, No. 3, pp. 305–339.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wells, G. (1985) (Ed.) Language and Learning: An International Perspective. London, Falmer Press.Google Scholar