Music Lessons During COVID-19: Teachers Assess Struggles, Accommodations, and Leveraging

• In Event: Considering Music Teaching and Pedagogy

Abstract

COVID-19 forced extreme measures in many cities worldwide, including school shutdowns and limited social contact. Semi-structured interviews with 14 Israeli music teachers exposed the challenges of teaching musical instruments during social distancing. Traditional teaching methods, demonstrations, and physical guidance demanded accommodation to online communication. Latency and poor sound quality required compromise and adjustment. The role of the teacher as a source of empathy and human connection, especially during lack of peer contact, was highlighted and the need for face-to-face and intimate guidance became clearer in contrast with formal education’s tendency towards heavy incorporation of technology. Participants shared perceptions of online learning, coping methods, creative approaches, attentiveness to students, temporary solutions to technical problems, and forward-looking insights.

Author

• Tal Vaizman, University of Haifa