Elementary Music Teachers Developing Knowledge Through Hip-Hop

• In Event: Exploring General Music Classrooms

Abstract

This multiple case study explores the ways that three elementary music educators developed knowledge related to Hip-Hop. The educators learned alongside each other in workshop settings with the researchers as facilitators and with local Hip-Hop artists who also worked with their students during project implementation. Data consisted of individual and focus group interviews, videos of workshops and instruction with students, and classroom artifacts. Findings explore the variety of ways that educators developed knowledge in terms of knowledge of self, knowledge of their students and community, knowledge of Hip-Hop culture, and knowledge of Hip-Hop pedagogy. Implications highlight the need for more robust music teacher education related to Hip-Hop as well as more explicit work related to knowledge of self.

Authors

• Donna Gallo, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

• Adam J Kruse, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign