Sociological Perspective in Music Education

Sociological Perspective in Music Education

• Preparing to be a music teacher requires diverse knowledge and skills
• Sociology is directly applicable to music education, helping teachers understand differing perspectives and experiences of parents, administrators, community members, and students
• Sociological awareness allows teachers to differentiate between objective facts and subjective biases
• Understanding societal factors is essential for effective instruction and relationships with students, schools, and communities
• Teacher's philosophical beliefs influence their teaching methods and curriculum presentation

Rationale for Sociological Understanding

• A sociological analysis provides a deeper understanding of education and interactions within educational environments aiding informed decision-making across institutions
• Social factors influencing teaching practice include learner identity, cultural background, teacher identity, and pedagogical approaches
• Teachers may initially view themselves as performers rather than educators influencing their teaching philosophies and approaches
• Studying factors such as social class, race, and religion is crucial for understanding sociological issues impacting students, teachers, and musical performances

Sociological Benefits for Music Educators

• Relate music to different cultural perspectives and viewpoints
• Create connections between in-school and societal music experiences
• Improve understanding and empathy toward students from different backgrounds
• Design effective instructional and rehearsal strategies that become more impactful
• Build more meaningful relationships between school music programs and community expectations
• Support understanding of the educator's role in the educational process

Sociology and Education

• Sociologists are interested in educational structures' interactions and impacts on individuals
• Musical interactions are diverse, and include behaviors and characteristics relevant to different educational settings and situations
• Understanding the diverse perspectives of students (including musical interests and expectations), backgrounds, and experiences is crucial for effective teaching

Sociological Perspective

• Sociologists are more concerned with "why" and "what" teachers teach rather than "how" to teach effectively
• Focuses on learning, experiences, and the general development of human society
• Includes various concepts like interactions, institutions, human behavior origins, and the overall evolution of human societies
• Examines diverse social concepts which include discussions involving: self-identity, self-concept, gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, technology, religion, and musical experiences

Culture

• Culture is shared characteristics encompassing beliefs, behaviors, values, and possessions
• Cultures are created and developed by humans
• Culture is constantly changing
• Music is an essential component of all cultures, reflecting beliefs and traditions
• Encompasses many groups with diverse interpretations of "cultural norms" such as values, behavior, dress, language, possessions, etc

Multicultural Education

• Acknowledges diversity of schools' student populations
• Supports multiculturalism through culture appreciation and educational strategies aiming for acceptance, eliminating discrimination, and improving intercultural interactions based on students' backgrounds
• Recognizing students' diverse cultural perspectives promotes understanding and creates inclusive environments for effective music learning
• Applying a multicultural awareness helps to overcome potential conflicts between diverse values, views, and expectations

Questions for Consideration

• Why has there been a rise in sociological issues in schools?
• How can music curricula accurately and meaningfully reflect diversity?
• Why is music a globally significant factor across diverse cultures?
• Should schools expect all students to perform music equally well?
• Should teachers' cultural values influence students' music lessons and learning process?
• How do schools effectively handle conflicting values between schools and homes?
• What impact have sociological views had on the role of schools?

Web Resources

• Contains helpful links about resources for U.S. Census Bureau, National Core Arts Standards, and Social Justice and Bullying; including conferences, organizations, associations and relevant websites