Considering Beliefs in Learning to Teach Music: Students' Motivations Vary, but Teacher-Educators Need to Help Students Examine Their Beliefs about Why They Wish to become Music Teachers

In this article, the author discusses the importance of examining beliefs of future music educators about teaching and learning and describes how teaching beliefs are formed. Students enter music education programs with definite beliefs about teaching music and about teaching and learning in general...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inMusic educators journal Vol. 93; no. 3; pp. 30 - 35
Main Author Thompson, Linda K
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published MENC: The National Association for Music Education 01.01.2007
MENC - The National Association for Music Education
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Summary:In this article, the author discusses the importance of examining beliefs of future music educators about teaching and learning and describes how teaching beliefs are formed. Students enter music education programs with definite beliefs about teaching music and about teaching and learning in general. These beliefs generally stem from three sources: (1) personal knowledge; (2) experiences in school; and (3) formal knowledge. Knowing that beliefs are powerful, and while acknowledging that there are differences among the beliefs of entering candidates, the author provides themes which are representative of many prospective teachers and suggests ways for teacher educators in helping students explore and evaluate their beliefs. A list of strategies that, when continuously embedded throughout the program, can serve the goal of preservice teachers' reflecting on their own experiences in schools, creating powerful opportunities to uncover and examine their beliefs about teaching and learning, is presented. (Contains 14 notes.)
ISSN:0027-4321
1945-0087