PhD Cohort 2019
Funding: AHRC DTP
Project Title: Facilitating musical learning in Scottish Primary Schools
Supervisors: Prof Raymond MacDonald and Dr Nikki Moran, Edinburgh College of Art
What was your research about?
A qualitative study of what people involved in delivering music education think of as music, why, and how it might impact on access to music education, leading to the conclusion that music and music education are still largely framed through Western European Art Music and that these colonialities contribute directly to low confidence amongst teachers with regards to teaching music.
Confidence in teaching music has been a long-standing issue for Scottish generalist
primary teachers, and, amidst cuts to specialist teachers and instrumental music in
Scottish schools, generalist teachers are increasingly under pressure to deliver
music lessons. The thesis reports on primary school music, and community music,
in which musical learning is facilitated as a part of wider community music practices.
Setting generalist primary teacher voices alongside community music practitioner
and primary music specialist voices, this thesis sought to better understand: 1)
generalist teachers’ perceptions of teaching music in the primary school; and 2) how
the experiences, views and beliefs of primary music specialist teachers and
community music practitioners yield distinct and often contradictory perspectives on
what it means to teach music. Taking a life stories approach, this study draws on the
life-long and life-wide experiences of 30 teachers and practitioners, collected
through semi-structured interviews. This approach situates teachers’ and
practitioners’ current work positions within the wider frame of their life trajectories,
considering both structural and individual/personal influences on their career
choices and pathways. Life stories demonstrate how teachers and practitioners
arrive in the powerful position of being gatekeepers of access to musical learning.
Focussing on an inductive approach to analysis, key themes emerged.
1. Music is ‘othered’ in numerous structural and conceptual ways, that is, it is
positioned separately from the rest of the curriculum and is viewed as an activity
only certain people have access to.
2. Chance plays a significant role in shaping musical life journeys and
trajectories, by mediating the opportunities and barriers people face in engaging
with music and pursuing their career pathways.
3. The process of teaching music is described as a performative act of facilitating
musical learning, whereby the teacher enacts musical confidence and charisma
to engage learners and present themselves as an authoritative leader.
These themes were explored in detail, with reference to Expectancy Value Theory
(Eccles & Wigfield, 2002), as a means of understanding how teachers construct self-efficacy
in music teaching, and drawing on Postcolonial theories to situate Western
European Art Music (WEAM) as the primary actor in ‘othering’ music in Scottish
Primary schools. While music is ‘othered’ in many ways, from how it is included in
Initial Teacher Training, to the presence of specialist teachers (for a specialist
subject) and perceptions of the skills and knowledges required to ‘be musical’, the
Eurocentric colonial dominance of WEAM can be seen as the root cause of
‘othering’ music, and of lowering teachers’ self-efficacy for teaching music.
Furthermore, music is presented in life journeys as an opportunity only available to
some, whether through families or school access, or through the personal and
musical incompatibility of opportunities that are available. These experiences are
also impacted by the dominance of WEAM within them, which acts as a barrier to
participation through its rules and regulations. Lastly, teaching is described as an act
of performance, raising questions over the role of subject knowledge versus
teaching skills, i.e. the ability to perform musical confidence and capacity for
facilitating learning.
I argue that cycles of low musical confidence amongst generalist teachers can be
interrupted through understanding the process of teaching music as one of
performed facilitation and identifying examples of colonialism in music education.
Thus, this thesis recognises the need for a conceptual shift that could decolonise
music education in order to make the subject more accessible for generalist teachers.
What made you apply for the SGSAH AHRC DTP?
I wanted to do a substantial research project and a PhD was a way to do it. I also wanted to pursue teaching work in HE, and a PhD felt necessary.
Which aspects of your PhD did you enjoy the most?
All of the interesting conversations and connections with people I got to make along the way and getting to dedicate my time and energy to one project.
How has your PhD helped you to decide on a career path?
It hasn’t, if I’m honest.
And now?
Some casual teaching, finishing up a postdoc, and lots of freelance work in the arts and as a researcher and consultant.
One piece of advice you would give an incoming PhD researcher?
Take holidays. The PhD is not the be all and end all of your life.
Where can people find you?
Twitter: @DiljeetB_Flute
Website: www.diljeetbhachu.com