Many researchers have discussed the feasibility of teaching and learning practical skills, such as playing a musical instrument, through distance education. One of the central issues considered in music education is that of motivation, leading educators to wonder how students might remain motivated when learning music at a distance. In this…

Music education majors report low exposure to creative musical activities (CMAs) despite increased discourse surrounding the inclusion of CMAs in standards, curricula, publications, and practice. The purpose of this study was to compare preservice music teachers' (PMT) and music teacher educators' (MTE) experiences with CMAs. We used an anonymous…

The purpose of this study was to investigate secondary instrumental music education in rural Mississippi. This descriptive study investigated the experiences, attitudes, beliefs, and perceptions that rural instrumental music educators ("N" = 58) held about their schools, students, and communities. Furthermore, we examined how…

The purpose of this instrumental case study was to investigate the perceptions of preservice music teachers learning popular music and facilitating popular music learning experiences with elementary students in an after-school music program. Preservice music teachers enrolled in a popular music pedagogy course learned techniques for teaching and…

The purpose of this study was to investigate current secondary woodwind, brass, and combined wind instrument methods courses for preservice music teachers across the United States. Two-hundred eleven (N = 211) wind methods course instructors from National Association of Schools of Music-accredited institutions completed an online survey that…

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between preservice music teachers' primary instrument background and their teaching effectiveness in brass and woodwind techniques classes. Study participants (N = 135) were preservice music teachers enrolled in secondary instrument techniques courses (brass and woodwinds) from fall 2011…

Coursework across the music education curriculum provides teacher educators an opportunity to introduce and reinforce a range of instructional practices (i.e., creating, performing, responding to, and connecting with music) into the music classroom. Although instrument techniques courses are a foundational part of an undergraduate music education…

The purpose of this action research study was to explore the use of problem-based learning (PBL) in a secondary instrument methods course. Six students enrolled in a woodwind methods course and participated in PBL activities--including video assessment, written scenarios, emergent performance scenarios in the classroom, group activities, and…

The development of musicianship is a fundamental learning outcome for music students. The purpose of this study was to examine the early socialization experiences of preservice music teachers, as well as their opinions about musicianship. A total of 138 undergraduate music education students completed a three-part online questionnaire. The large…

The purpose of this study was to examine music education students' experiences (N = 64) in courses designed to develop vernacular musicianship and expand understandings of informal music making. Students participated in one of two classes (undergraduate/graduate), formed their own small ensembles, chose their own music and instruments, led their…

The purpose of this Self-Study of Teacher Education Practice (S-STEP) was to examine faculty and student perceptions of co-curricular experiences between an undergraduate instrumental conducting and a junior-level music education course. To help students develop their conducting and pedagogical skills simultaneously, music education and conducting…

We investigated whether camera placement affects peer teachers' focus of attention during reflection. Preservice music teachers (N = 14) reflected on peer teaching videos that had been recorded simultaneously from a head-mounted camera and a tripod-mounted camera at the back of the classroom. Participants completed the teaching reflection cycle…

The purpose of this study was to compare the muscle activation of singers and instrumentalists while performing simple vocal exercises. Volunteer participants (N = 28) were undergraduate music majors and minors, with an equal number being vocalists and instrumentalists. Participants performed five vowel sounds (ah, eh, ee, oh, oo), while…

Occupational identity development is an important, complex component of music teacher education. Preservice teachers may experience dissonance between and/or integration of their musician and teacher identities, and scholars have found early field experiences to be important in undergraduates' transitions into the teacher role. The purpose of this…

The purpose of this multiple case study was to examine the experiences of beginning music teachers as they navigate starting instrumental music programs in a large urban school district in the southern United States. A team of researchers collected data from three first-year music educators launching new instrumental programs at seven schools.…