Influences on career choice among music education audition candidates: A pilot study

David A. Rickels, Kimberly H. Councill, William E. Fredrickson, Michelle J. Hairston, Ann M. Porter, Margaret Schmidt

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

33 Scopus citations

Abstract

The purpose of this pilot study was to survey prospective undergraduate music education majors to learn what motivated them to aspire to a career in music education. Respondents were candidates auditioning, but not yet accepted, for music teacher preparation programs at four institutions (N = 228). Findings corroborate prior research that suggests that school music teachers and/or private lesson teachers are highly influential. This study sought to quantify the types of experiences participants had in teaching roles at the time of their college audition, supporting other research suggesting that such experiences may increase interest in a music teaching career. Recommendations include engaging music educators at all PreK-12 levels in actively recruiting and encouraging future teachers, providing private instructors and performance majors with teacher recruitment information, emphasizing earlier identification and preparation of prospective educators, and refining and continuing the work begun in this pilot study.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)292-307
Number of pages16
JournalJournal of Research in Music Education
Volume57
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2010

Keywords

  • Career choice
  • Career influence
  • Teacher recruitment

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Education
  • Music

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