University Music Educators' Effectiveness as Determined By Public School Music Teachers

The Role of University Music Educators as Perceived by Public School Music Teachers

“…The sixteen items listed as possible factors for keeping college music educators up-to-date with the public school music classroom received a generally positive response from the music teachers in terms of perceived effectiveness. However, as in research conducted by Hamann and Lawrence (1994), most music teachers placed more importance on items involving teaching or observing SPRING 1999 in public school music classrooms. An implication that may be drawn from the findings of this study is that university/college music education professors can better prepare their preservice teachers by becoming more informed through actual involvement in the day-to-day activities of public school music classrooms themselves.…”

“…According to the findings of this study, university/college music educators are perceived as being out of touch with public school music classrooms. Research conducted by Hamann and Lawrence (1994) found a moderate level of agreement among music teachers pertaining to whether university/college music educators were up-to-date with the realities of the teaching environ-. rnent, characteristics, and interests of public school music classrooms.…”

“…All subjects were asked to provide the following demographic information: degree earned, area of teaching emphasis, present teaching level, teaching environment, and years of teaching experience. In addition to demographic information, subjects were asked to respond to a survey developed by Hamann and Lawrence (1994).…”

“…Since the role and effectiveness of the UCTE seems to be under great scrutiny by school practitioners, more research in this area seemed warranted. The following study replicates an earlier investigation conducted by Hamann and Lawrence (1994), but uses the responses of teachers from a different region of the United States. The purposes of the study were to determine (1) how the role and effectiveness of university/college music educators is perceived by public school music practitioners, (2) what factors are perceived by public school music teachers as most effective in keeping university/college music educators up-to-date with public school music classrooms, and ( 3) to what degree public school music teachers feel that university/ college music educators are involved in public schools.…”

“…Results of research conducted by Hamann and Lawrence (1994) revealed that public school music teachers did not feel that university music educators were failing to stay current with the public school setting, but that they did need to be more involved in activities thought to be most meaningful to an informed educator.…”