A ten year follow-up investigation of preservice generalist primary teacher's background and confidence in teaching music

This paper reports the findings of a study involving 138 NSW preservice generalist teachers and compares them with similar findings from a similar group of students from a previous study. Students’ perceptions of their background in formal music education and their confidence in teaching music lessons are analysed. The paper also examines the data to identify if there is a correlation between the students’ background and their confidence in music teaching. Results indicated that preservice teachers entering the creative arts unit had little formal music education and lacked confidence in teaching music lessons, however about half of them felt positive about teaching music lessons. These results are compared with current and past research as well as with the findings from the previous study and indicate that students in the previous study had a stronger formal musical background than those in the recent study. Further research suggestions are considered along with suggestions for addressing these challenges in Teacher Education courses