The distinctive nature of music education and music teacher education

Abstract

[Abstract]: To become a music teacher in Queensland secondary schools, it is necessary to qualify at tertiary level. The coursework paths that preservice teachers take prior to graduating as music teachers are found within the accredited education degrees, and although preservice teacher education courses in Queensland are regularly evaluated and upgraded, the effectiveness of music teacher education has not been considered separately. Furthermore, changes to the tertiary music teacher education curriculum have been at best haphazard and unsupported by research. This article argues that music education is distinctive within the school curriculum and as such music teachers and preservice music teachers require specialist skills to teach the subjects effectively. As a result it is argued that the nature of preservice music teacher education differs from general preservice teacher education, and so should be evaluated spearately.