An Investigation of Rural Elementary General Music
Author | : Holly Angela Smith |
Publisher | : |
Total Pages | : 53 |
Release | : 2014 |
Genre | : Education, Rural |
ISBN | : |
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Two elementary general music teachers serving in rural public schools in Ohio were interviewed to investigate the nature and characteristics of elementary general music in rural school districts and elementary general music teachers' perceptions of their level of preparedness to teach in a rural school district. The research questions that guided this study were: (a) What is the nature of rural elementary general music programs? (b) What challenges and advantages are unique to rural music education? In relation to learning? In relation to teaching? (c) What are teachers' perceptions about their level of preparation for teaching in a rural elementary general music program? (d) What district wide professional development opportunities are available for rural elementary general music teachers? In what kinds of professional development experiences do these teachers participate? Each semi-structured interview was audiotaped and transcribed. The interview transcripts were then analyzed for codes, categories, and themes. Three themes emerged from the data: (a) Characteristics of These General Music Programs and Teaching Positions; (b) Context: Understanding the Place Where One Teaches; and (c) Community. Because this study investigated the perceptions of two rural elementary general music teachers, expanding the number of contexts and participants may provide a more comprehensive understanding of the nature of these music programs, of teachers' roles and identity, and could more extensively examine challenges and advantages related to the rural setting. Other studies could include: a comparative study of rural, urban, and/or suburban elementary general music programs to examine the similarities and differences between programs; or an ethnographic case study of elementary general music students, located in rural settings, to investigate their lived experiences as growing musicians.