In this article the author's examine, through the cases of Finland and Cambodia, expressions of constructive patriotism in educational policy, curriculum documents and music teacher actions and reflections. This study is part of a broader cross-cultural exchange project: "Multicultural Arts University", between researchers and music…

Mentoring is an instructional model that allows for one-on-one engagements between teacher and student. It is unarguably one of the better ways of individualizing instruction at all levels. Music educators in higher education are accustomed to this model by: (1) their own professional music studies; and (2) what they experienced while writing a…

In his book, Chris Higgins acknowledges the challenges of teaching associated with heavy workloads, increasing responsibilities, and often diminishing respect from the very public institutions that teachers serve. However, his purpose is not to deplore the external conditions of teaching but to raise concerns about its service culture. He argues…

In his recent monograph, Chris Higgins (2011) offers a remarkably original, thoughtful, and provocative argument for "an ethics of professional practice" for teachers. His study brings together a wealth of ideas and authors not often discussed in relation to each other, and it draws out elusive themes and ideas often overlooked in most analyses of…

In this article, the author states that she supports Wayne Bowman's (2006) concern with the impact narratives can have, including their potential to legitimize "existing patterns of privilege and possibility." She argues that "there is nothing inherently emancipatory about narrative." In fact, narrative "may, and often does, legitimatize existing…

At the turn of the century, there was a widespread perception on the part of pupils, teachers, and policy makers that a "problem with school music" existed, particularly at the secondary level. It was hypothesized that one contributory factor was the perceived authenticity of "school music" in relation to "music outside school," not least because…

In the author's years working as a music specialist in English primary schools she encountered confident, experienced, professional teachers who expressed anxiety about teaching music in the National Curriculum. A number of generalist teachers seemed to believe that they were not competent to teach music to their classes, since they perceived…

Music education research today continues in well-worn paths. While it may be productive in quantity, it is not clear the degree to which it informs current music teacher education or has produced advances in teaching practice. Indeed, as some critics of university-based teacher education research have argued (e.g., Boyer 1990; Schwandt 2005), such…

In this article, the author shares his transformative experiences of teaching in Puerto Rico. Specifically, he reflects on why and how his transactions with his first class caused him to adopt themes and strategies from the relatively new field of "critical performative pedagogy." He begins by explaining three concepts that ground critical…

The author reads with great interest Rhoda Bernard's (2005) article "Making Music, Making Selves." Bernard's concerns about the multiple identities that she holds, and people's tendency to compartmentalize their various identities according to audience and role are issues for the author as she designs and teaches within music teacher education…

What can be learned from two films with "rock" and "school" in their titles, about rock in school and about music and schooling more broadly? "School of Rock" (2003), a "family comedy," and "Rock School" (2005), a documentary, provoke a range of questions, ideological and otherwise, surrounding the inclusion of rock in formal instructional…

In recent years, music educators have become interested in linking music education practices, programs and projects to issues of social justice. However, theoretical approaches to conceptualizing the problem or to developing strategic interventions have yet to occur within the field. In this paper, the author argues that to address social justice…

In the author's research, she studies the professional identities of music educators. Through her ethnographic studies of elementary school general music teachers, she has come to better understand the ways that elementary general music teachers express and enact their identities. It is often said that academics study themselves when they conduct…

This article addresses one of the four questions of the MayDay Group Action Ideal No. 7: "To what extent and how can music education curriculums take broader educational and social concerns into account?" A multifaceted music curriculum model (MMC Model)--one that addresses relevant issues, criteria, and parameters typically involved or often…

The present study is one of the first investigations into the music teacher educator shortage. The purpose was to identify factors that affect music teachers' decisions about entering music education doctoral programs. Practicing music educators, identified as being outstanding candidates for doctoral studies (PME) (n = 22), and recent doctoral…