A Systematic Review of Music Teacher Education Research within the United States:1982-2010

Abstract

Music education researchers have explored several issues within music teacher education (MTE) including: coursework, teacher and musicianship skills, design and implementation of undergraduate programs, and music teacher identity development. An examination and discussion of this research will assist those responsible for educating future music teacher educators with developing meaningful and effective teacher training programs. In this systematic review, I examined the research published in peer-review journals between 1982 and 2010 and defended music education dissertations between 2005 and 2010. The purpose of the current synthesis was to synthesize peer-review research relating to MTE and to recount the findings and connections of existing research for current music teacher educators. Before studies were included in the synthesis, I reviewed each one to ensure they met the following inclusion criteria: (a) relevant to the proposed research questions under consideration; (b) published in a peer-review journal or a defended dissertation between 2005-2010; (c) printed in English; (d) published between 1982 and July 2010; (e) involved subjects who were members of an undergraduate teacher preparation program in the United States; (f) detailed in the presentation of the methodology; and (g) presented the content so that relevant information could be attained. To further explore the implications of the current synthesis' findings, three practicing music teacher educators completed a two-part questionnaire designed to elicit information about their perspectives of MTE research and opinions of the current findings. I reviewed, categorized, and reported responses from each questionnaire as part of the research synthesis intending to identify the role of research in MTE, commonalities, possible concerns, and possible future research needs for meaningful research agendas specific to music teacher education.