Standing in the Gap: Middle-Level Music Learning in the United States and Its Territories

• In Event: Perspectives in Music Education

Abstract

While music education in the U.S. is designed to be comprehensive and sequential from kindergarten through twelfth grade, grades 5-8 are often overlooked. Currently available data regarding middle level music learning opportunities and the music teachers who teach these courses is limited. This national survey of 10,727 schools serving 5th-8th grade students provided descriptive statistics regarding music learning available in 2020-2021 and demographic details about the music teachers. There were 2,748 (25.62%) respondents to the survey and 900 (8.39%) schools offered no 5th-8th music learning in 2020-2021. The teacher respondents identified as overwhelmingly White (85.18%) and 63.97% as women. The ongoing analysis of this study reveals an important portrait of 5th-8th grade music learning in the U.S. and its territories.

Authors

• Stephanie Cronenberg, Rutgers University

• Brandon Williams, Rutgers University - New Brunswick