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Focus group interviews: Music teachers’ perspectives on promoting creativity in young children
Citation
Paper presented at the Australian Association for Research in Education conference, Melbourne, Australia, 2004
Author
Lam, Stella Wai Man
Abstract
This paper will present the findings of a research project whose major objective was to
investigate how teachers think and behave about using a new approach in music
education centered on promoting creativity in young children. Focus group interviews
were conducted with 30 participants from 2 local kindergarten with nearly equal
socio-economic status. These interviews were transcribed and video-recorded for later
analysis. The interview questions covered five main topics on the theme “Early
Childhood Teachers’ Promoting of Creative Music Education for Young Children” and
included : definition of musical creativity, observable characteristics of creative
kindergarten teachers in music, types of teaching strategies/activities that stimulate
musical learning, social interactions and problem solving and characteristics of
musically creative kindergarten children.
Preliminary analysis of the findings revealed different views and perspectives
concerning musical creativity. Observable characteristics of creative kindergarten
teachers in music included flexibility, and willingness to try different methods to
encourage enjoyment in children. A creative musical classroom should provide access
to musical instruments, integrate music elements into the daily curriculum and
provide free play experiences. Music teachers should apply teaching techniques that
make use of demonstration and encourage problem-solving skills. Musically creative
children express themselves readily are willing to take risks.
Date Issued
November 2004
Project
CRP 9/04 SW