Date of Award

11-1-2003

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Music Education (MME)

Department

Music

First Advisor

Dr. Melissa Berke

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine preservice and inservice elementary educators' knowledge of elementary song repertoire and their confidence with leading selected songs to students. Participants (N=42) in this study were undergraduate elementary education majors and graduate students (non-music majors) enrolled in music education course. Graduate participants involved in this study had just completed their first year of teaching. Participants were surveyed to determine their knowledge of song material and confidence in song leading, with 25 songs randomly selected from the "Get America Singing...Again!" Volumes I and II, published by Music Educators National Conference (MENC, 1996). Results indicated that the average undergraduate (N=l8) knowledge/confidence of song material was lower than that of graduates (N=24). Comparisons were also made between age groups; results indicated that older students exhibited more knowledge/confidence of song repertoire. Furthermore, those graduates who taught at the primary level of elementary education (Pre-kindergarten through second grade; N=12) were .not as knowledgeable in song material as those who taught intermediate elementary (third grade through sixth grade; N=12). Overall, the mean for undergraduate and graduate knowledge/confidence was under 3, indicating that they were not able to sing any of the song material.

Comments

A Thesis Presented to the Department of Music and the Faculty of the Graduate College University of Nebraska In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Music Education University of Nebraska at Omaha. Copyright 2003 Terra S. Marsden.

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