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Date Posted: 20:26:08 02/18/07 Sun
Author: Nickie
Subject: General Music-- The Scum of Music Education?
Lately, I've received a lot of feedback from various people about the fact that I am hoping to teach K-6 general music after graduation. I feel as though this job is looked down upon in the music education world. There seems to be some sort of stigma about early music education, does there not? It's almost as if general music teachers are looked down upon by secondary teachers. What do you think about this? Why is general music seen in this light? I'm really interested to hear if other people have noticed this "reputation."
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Re: General Music-- The Scum of Music Education? -- Amanda M., 15:05:32 02/19/07 Mon [1]
For one thing, I do not think that it is just general music educators who are looked down upon by secondary teachers; I think this holds true for most elementary teachers as well. I have noticed this trend, but I am not sure why this is. People who can instill a love and want for being involved in music into children are one of the most critical influences in the world of music education. The only reason I can think of why this prejudice exists is maybe people view positions of teaching in higher education are more reputable. I think that if someone has a passion to teach and is patient, general music education would be a great route because those are the people who are needed most.
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Re: General Music-- The Scum of Music Education? -- Dr. O, 12:00:04 03/19/07 Mon [1]
I think Nickie has a point; I have noticed that some people do look down on elementary music teachers, and perhaps consider them less skilled. I think this is a product of earlier generations, when elementary music was primarily just singing. It certainly doesn't reflect current trends in elementary music education, with the extensive emphasis on techniques such as Orff, Dalcroze, Kodaly, world music, dancing, etc. Elementary teachers today achieve amazing things with young children, far in excess of what was being done 15-20 years ago. Here is a second question: how can elementary music teachers make more obvious what is going on in their programs?
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Re: General Music-- The Scum of Music Education? -- Hayley Pletcher, 09:47:43 02/20/07 Tue [1]
I don't really know why that they are looked down upon. Without general music teachers, who would prepare the students for the secondary teachers? Everyone has to start at the begining and it is always helpful to have someone there to guide the beginners and help them understand things to further their knowledge and prepare them for what is to come.
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Re: General Music-- The Scum of Music Education? -- Chad B, 09:20:54 02/24/07 Sat [1]
I agree with Hayley on this one. General music education is the foundation for building music knowledge. I understand the inferiority viewpoint you've stated. Perhaps it has something to do with a lack of ensemble. Choral directors and band directors have performance ensembles that build application of knowledge in a different way.
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Re: General Music-- The Scum of Music Education? -- Nickie, 11:58:24 02/27/07 Tue [1]
Good point, Chad. But it is important to remember that nowadays, elementary music is SO much more than just general music! Many elementary programs include ensembles, whether they be open-enrollment choral ensembles, or even auditioned "advanced" children's choruses. Also, we must remember that beginning band programs are a part of the elementary music program, and band is an ensemble.
And on another note... I think that sometimes, elementary general music requires so much MORE preparation than ensemble rehearsal planning. I mean, we as elementary educators, have to plan out how we are going to meet our curricular goals and state and national standards each year.
So there you have it: Nickie's side of the story.
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Re: General Music-- The Scum of Music Education? -- Amanda Chaney, 11:42:29 02/26/07 Mon [1]
I think that it's not just elementary music educators that are looked down upon in general, but I think there is this stigma surrounding all music education. I think not just teachers, but people outside of the education career, especially superintendents, etc. sometimes think that teaching music is easy or that it requires little knowledge and/or preperation. which is why many schools have teachers who do not have a music education degree, but either were in choir or band in college or have a music minor teach general music or one of the ensembles.
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Re: General Music-- The Scum of Music Education? -- Jessalyn, 20:23:25 02/27/07 Tue [1]
I dont think its always looked down upon. But I think there is resentment due to the fact that some early music ed teachers dont always fully instill the best musical understanding in their students. And if they dont, when they reach higher grades more time has to be wasted to catch up instead of going ahead and building on previous knowledge. If those blocks arent in place, then you cannot continue to build upon them to widen their range of knowledge.
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Re: General Music-- The Scum of Music Education? -- Beth G., 14:41:58 03/02/07 Fri [1]
I have not seen the general music teachers looked down upon in particular. I think that it is all music teachers all the way up through high school. People I think look down upon them because they think of music as an extracurricular. Something that is done on the side of math and science and not really important or hard to teach kids. It's not a bad job if you are really into it and want to teach. It's just as good as all the other teaching jobs.
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Re: General Music-- The Scum of Music Education? -- Honoree Pouly, 16:36:45 04/15/07 Sun [1]
I have also received negative feedback concerning my want to teach K-6. I think that as mentioned above reasons such as, having more prestigious groups in higher levels, not having as many of the same types of ensembles as they do at higher levels, and not properly preparing students for the years to come can be a cause for this view.
I personally feel that the most important music education occurs in the early years. This is because people in general are more malleable, and able to learn at a younger age. This is the time to instill a love for music along with an understanding of the concepts. As Hayley mentioned, music education on the elementary level is preparing the students for the ensembles in Jr. High and High School. Skills are not being honed at a young age, but they are being created and learned. Without this early education the later skills and goals could not be reached, without years of training.
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Re: General Music-- The Scum of Music Education? -- Jayme Orians, 09:28:04 05/02/07 Wed [1]
I feel that elementary music teachers should be respected because they are the ones laying down the foundation to the upper levels of music education. Early music teachers had to go through the same schooling and have the same knowledge that other music teachers have. I think they should be regarded as being on the same level as other teachers because my belief is that no music teaching is less worthy than any other.
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Re: General Music-- The Scum of Music Education? -- John Weber, 21:30:13 04/14/08 Mon [1]
I agree with much of what has been stated above. Truth be told, you don't go to a music contest and hear, "Aaaaaaand the winners of the contest are...the 3rd grade beginner's music class of Woodson Elementary!" Less prestige, less respect, less yadda yadda yadda. But like others here have said, you have to start somewhere. About the only subject that isn't taught to humans by somebody, be it teachers or parents, is breathing. Everything else must be learned from the ground up. Therefore, music education has to start at the beginning as well-in General Music. If General Music teachers weren't there, then where would the high school music teachers be?
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Re: General Music-- The Scum of Music Education? -- Tasia B, 20:29:46 04/28/08 Mon [1]
I agree that I see the early childhood education looked down upon, but someone has to do it! If thats something you WANT to do, all the more power to you! People just think that its harder to teach kids at that age, I bet its harder to do than teaching high school level...
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Re: General Music-- The Scum of Music Education? -- Nikki M., 19:42:12 05/07/08 Wed [1]
I actually want to teach General Music when the students are young. I love kids, that's why I'm becoming a teacher after all.
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