This paper investigates one experienced classroom music teacher's journey in navigating syllabus changes in New South Wales (NSW) secondary schools in the period between 1968 and 1978. A significant dearth of research on teacher education in general, and in particular, in the area of secondary music teaching exists in NSW. This research will add…

The COVID-19 public health crisis forced all educators to explore technology in the largest test of online teaching during the spring of 2020. Included in the population of educators were the studio music faculty steeped in a tradition of side-by-side teaching. This research study explored the application of lighting and sound technology adapted…

This paper discusses the results of an anonymous survey completed by 239 Australian piano teachers in relation to the teaching materials and practices used by teachers with piano students aged 12-17, older beginners. The survey, which is part of a broader study investigating constructivism in music education, explores teacher choices and opinions…

Early-career teachers are referred to in the literature as being in their first few years of teaching experience (Ballantyne & Zhukov, 2017; Dabback, 2018). This research aims to identify current issues that affect the aspirations of early-career secondary school music teachers, including what motivates and engages them in their work and what…

The initial application of evolutionary theory to the universal practice of music-making in humans was at best marginal and at worst dismissive of non-Western musics. Darwin's biography defines an agenda for musicality in the emergence of human culture that is receiving considerable attention in several disciplines, presenting a robust case for…

The purpose of this paper is to share the initial outcomes of a doctoral study about teaching for creativity in primary schools. The investigation inquired into how and why educators teach for creativity and implement creative processes in music, performing arts and generalist classrooms. The key outcomes discussed in this paper refer specifically…

Duoethnography and narrative inquiry are used to investigate the perspectives of two experienced teachers from contrasting curriculum specialties, one in music and the other in mathematics within a primary school setting. Initiated by the music teacher, research focuses on the usefulness of embodied and participatory forms of music-making for…

In 1993 the Victorian Music Teachers' Association (VMTA) published a fund-raising cookbook, Prestissimo Food for Agitato Musicians. Community cookbooks provide social historians with valuable windows into the lives and personalities of the contributors. The VMTA cookbook is no exception, bringing individuals into sharp relief and including asides…

It is almost as if there are two Bartóks -- the amiable collector of Hungarian folk music and the 'infernal' barbarian intent on destroying the music of the past (Gillies, 2010). These two sides of Bartók's character may be seen in such disparate works as "The Miraculous Mandarin" (1919) and his "Suite" No. 2, Op. 4 (1904-07).…

What are the characteristics of an inspiring music teacher? What do students value as important in the interaction and enjoyment of their music classes? This paper explores these questions through the lens of two experienced music educators who give insight into what they believe are the inspiring qualities of music teacher practice. The research…

This paper discusses the value of using video recordings to support reflective practice. We investigated how video can be used to revisit events to evaluate the teaching and learning experience. Video data were used in a child-initiated music project emerging from planned group activities by a music teacher. The quality of the children's…

The paper, presented as the Jacinth Oliver Memorial Address at the ASME national conference in 2017 explores a range of issues in music, education and music education. Past addresses are explored in the framework of a series of preludes.

The narrowing of the school curriculum in the USA, the UK and Australia to support subjects of perceived economic importance has seen a renewed interest in the educational philosophy of John Dewey (1859-1952), (Elliott, 2012; Englund; 2016, Woodford, 2012). An ever-increasing number of secondary school students, especially in the USA, are now…

This study sought to answer the following question: how is listening being taught in senior secondary music courses in schools across New South Wales (NSW), Australia? In New South Wales, the senior secondary music syllabuses set the expected outcomes for senior secondary students, and list the topics for study from which teachers must select.…

The Victorian Institute of Teaching (the Institute) was established 1 January 2003, following the consultation and planning work of the Ministerial Advisory Council for the Victorian Institute of Teaching (MACVIT) in 2001-2002. Across Australia, each State and Territory established similar semi-government authorities invested with teacher…