Enhancing Optimal Experiences in the Lives of K–12 Music Educators

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Thursday 4:15 pm - Gold 1
  In Roundtable Session: Leading, Belonging, and Bearing the Weight of Teaching

Abstract

This study explores K–12 music educators’ experiences with flow state, also known as optimal experience, during classroom instruction. Through interviews with six inservice music teachers, this research examined how flow manifests in daily teaching. This study also provided an opportunity to explore connections between music educators' personal and professional lives, highlighting their core beliefs and attitudes about teaching. While music educators engage with some components of the flow experience, others are more difficult to achieve and maintain. Our findings suggest that environments conducive to facilitating flow are critical for both enriching the lives of music educators and strengthening the sustainability of the profession.

Authors

• Megan Reilly

• Drew Xavier Coles, Teachers College, Columbia University