Melbourne Conservatorium of Music - Research Publications

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    Music value and participation: An Australian case study of music provision and support in Early Childhood Education
    Barrett, MS ; Flynn, LM ; Welch, GF (SAGE Publications, 2018-12-01)
    There is a growing body of evidence that early engagement in active music-making impacts beneficially on children’s wider development. Recent research indicates that individual and shared music-making in family settings contributes to positive parenting practices and identity development in young children. Children who participate in shared music-making at age 3 are better prepared for school experiences at age 5. These findings suggest music should be a compulsory requirement in any early childhood programme. This article reports the findings of a case study investigation of the provision of music in an Australian Early Childhood Education Centre. Findings suggest that music provision is best supported when there is a high value for music amongst staff, there is a range of value-added as well as integrated uses of music, and there is sustained music professional development for all staff.
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    Beliefs and Values About Music in Early Childhood Education and Care: Perspectives From Practitioners.
    Barrett, MS ; Flynn, LM ; Brown, JE ; Welch, GF (Frontiers Media SA, 2019)
    This paper reports the findings of a study that aimed to identify the music beliefs and values of educators in early childhood education and care settings in Australia. The aims of the study were 2-fold: to adapt and pilot a survey of music beliefs and values which might be implemented subsequently nationally in childcare settings; and, secondly, to identify the music beliefs and values held by early childhood and care educators concerning music in children's learning. The research questions that guided this component of the study were: What is the profile of early childhood and care educators? What beliefs and values for music engagement are held by early childhood and care educators? What shapes early childhood and care educators' music beliefs and values? Findings indicated that educators' beliefs and values on all items are above the mid-point indicating overall positive attitudes toward music despite the majority having no formal qualifications in music or a history of instrumental performance and/or singing. Given the overall positive attitudes toward music we suggest there is enormous potential within this population for further professional learning and development targeted at music and its potential wider benefits in young children's learning and lives.
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    Problem-seeking in teacher education: Empowering students to grapple with the complexities of the profession
    Ballantyne, J ; Flynn, L ; Olm-Madden, T (Edith Cowan University, 2020)
    Preparing teachers for the realities of the profession is an ongoing concern for teacher education providers. In a climate where the future of teaching is largely unknown and the issues to be faced by teachers throughout their career largely imagined, the ability to identify and solve problems becomes increasingly important. This paper documents an evaluation of a pilot approach to preparing pre-service teachers for the realities of their profession. This approach, which centred on students utilising mobile technologies to problem-seek, was evaluated in terms of students’ perceived preparedness for the profession and their development of problem-solving skills and strategies. Results suggest that participating and engaging in the project may have in part contributed to reducing students’ anxiety around solving real-world problems, and improved their familiarity and preparedness for going into classroom settings.
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