Building an Equitable Music Community: An Analysis of Musical Interactions of Urban, Low-Socioeconomic-Status Families

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session 13
  In Roundtable Session: Equity in Music Education

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to describe the complex interplay of musical interactions between urban, low-SES parents and their children in an early childhood community music class setting to better understand serve and return behaviors of the teacher, parents, and children. The strategy of inquiry used to frame the study was an ethnographic microanalysis of interaction (Erickson, 1992). When a community of learners was established in the family music class, participants took on co-constructive roles that contributed insight and influenced the richness of the family music class environment. Recommendations for providing equitable access and strengthening practitioner-family connections in order to promote music learning of young children within community spaces are offered.

Authors

• Joel Staples, University at Buffalo - SUNY

• Elisabeth Etopio, University at Buffalo - SUNY