Do tocar ao ensinar : O caminho da escolha

This article describes and analyzes factors that motivate and influence young people studying music and choosing music teaching as a career. The research utilizes data gathered from a case study that was carried out during a period of two years at the State University of Santa Catarina. The results show that a personal attraction of an individual to music plays a more important role on that choice than external factors such as family, friends, school or religion. The will to learn music and to learn how to play music instruments is the strongest motivational factor on pursuing a music teaching education program. Knowing what music students think and how they make their choices is an important factor to be considered in the ongoing reform of Brazilian music education curricula. The paper concludes with some examples on topics for further research on music teaching education