An Analysis Of Practices In The Organization And Direction Of Bands And Orchestras In Selected High Schools

Author : Bethany J. Nickel
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 288 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (129 download)

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Download or read book High School Band Communities of Practice During COVID-19 written by Bethany J. Nickel and published by . This book was released on 2021 with total page 288 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The COVID-19 global pandemic altered PK-12 school music instruction in 2020-2021. The purpose of this multiple case study was to examine teaching and learning practices in high school band classrooms that were modified due to COVID-19. The research questions included (a) How do high school band teachers approach, construct, and adapt to coronavirus-era music teaching? (b) How do high school band students receive, describe, and adapt to coronavirus-era music learning? (c) How do high school band teachers and students work collaboratively toward building social and musical connections in the coronavirus-era music classroom? (d) What aspects of coronavirus-era band education do participants believe will shape future music classrooms? The research questions and analysis were developed using the theoretical framework of Communities of Practice Theory (Wenger, 1998). Participants included high school band teachers and students. Three high school band director participants were selected based on pre-determined criteria: that they had taught for 3 or more years at their current school with at least 5 total years of band teaching experience. The band students at the same three high schools were eligible to participate. Data was collected remotely and included interviews, observations, and journal entries. Data was analyzed within each case to describe the specific experiences of each band teacher and student participant. Cross-case analysis was then completed to determine similarities, differences, and unique qualities between the three cases. Themes from individual cases regarded band teacher strategies in remote and hybrid learning formats and how band teachers and students engaged in band camaraderie during COVID-19. Cross-case analysis produced overarching themes; including Responding to Student Needs, Self-Motivated vs. Group-Motivated, Hybrid Band Community, and Predictions for the Future. The data yielded four assertions regarding the experience of high school band teachers and students during COVID-19: the suitability of remote and hybrid instruction for individual music instruction and independence in learning, that COVID-19 cancellations led to flexibility in designing band instruction, and that social interaction is integral to learning in high school band. Implications for the music education field were also addressed.