MUSIC IN SPECIALISED ART EDUCATION: AN EXPLORATORY STUDY WITH MASTER'S STUDENTS IN MUSIC EDUCATION

Abstract

This article is the result of a research project carried out with students on the Master's Degree in Music Teaching at the University of Minho, Portugal. The central theme focused on diverse musical genres and their inclusion in the curriculum of specialised arts education. The participants’ musical training is rooted in the traditional Western classical music tradition; however, it is well known that young people have an affinity for contemporary and popular musical languages. The identification of the participants’ musical tastes, as well as their intentions to incorporate other musical genres and styles into their future teaching practices, were the focus of the study. The research was situated within the interpretative qualitative paradigm, an exploratory case study, using participant observation and a questionnaire as data collection tools. The results indicate that the students are exposed daily to different musical styles, but popular music  and its various genres occupy a privileged place within their socio-cultural contexts. As future teachers, the use of other musical genres and styles emerged naturally, underpinned by the idea that music reflecting students’ identity promotes motivation, a more comprehensive and inclusive education, improves the learning process, enriches and innovates the curriculum, opens up other career options and contributes to the process of change.