Making Music in Rural Places: Four Music Educators Celebrate Their Local Place Through Community Involvement

• In Event: Roundtable Session 34
  In Roundtable Session: Music Education SIG: Music Education Pedagogy

Abstract

Utilizing collaborative narrative methodology and the conceptual framework of ‘sense of place,’ four elementary music teachers present how their regular and extracurricular school programs foster commitment to community. Repertoire choices highlight the legends, traditions, and history of their areas and encourage student involvement through performances in their rural places. As participants outline and celebrate their music education successes, they also identify issues of isolation, lack of resources and collaboration opportunities with colleagues due to geographical barriers. They also stress the need for further research to highlight these issues and advocate for positive change through a rural social justice perspective (Cuervo, 2012).

Author

• Janet Spring, University of Toronto