A professional school-university partnership in primary music education

Abstract

An enduring theme within initial teacher education is how to best combine the theory of teaching with the practice. In Australia, this theme is receiving renewed attention as the result of a recent comprehensive review of teacher education. Whilst in the United Kingdom there is widespread use of school based teacher education and in the United States professional development schools have been formed, in Australia, such partnerships between schools and universities are not as developed. There is still substantial scope for real improvement in the construction of collaborative partnerships to provide greater opportunity to put theory into practice and make the theory more relevant and meaningful. The paper describes a school based learning program in music education - an area that beginning generalist classroom primary teachers appear to receive minimal if any opportunity for practice within school based professional experiences. It discusses the outcomes and benefits derived from the school - university program for all partners.