Week 1

This is the end of my first week in Research in Music Education.  I have to say that I have learned a lot so far.  Going into this class, I was convinced that I wouldn't enjoy it because it would be a lot of reading and a lot of research words that I don't understand.  But as soon as I opened my textbooks, I was hooked.  I have already read through Chapter 10 in one of the books.  (Exploring Research in Music Education and Music Therapy by Kenneth H. Phillips).  I  really enjoy how it explains the different parts of a research article and then gives you a really good example of a research article that emulates what you have just learned.

There are many places to find a research article that deals with music education.  There are generally four places you can find them: 1) research handbooks, 2) research journals in hard copy, 3) online journals, and 4) Dissertations and Masters Theses.  There are two very important handbooks that music educators should utilize when performing research.  The Handbook of Research on Music Teaching and Learning (1992) and The New Handbook of Research on Music Teaching and Learning (2002).  In these handbooks are chapters that present summaries of research, not the actually research so that it is easier to find the journals for which you are looking.  In addition, the following research journals are considered the best in music education: Journal of Research in Music Education, Journal of Music Therapy, and Psychology of Music.  These are peer reviewed which are considered to be far greater than those that aren't peer reviewed.

I have learned a lot about the different types of articles.  There are Historical Research Journals, Philosophical Research Journals, and Behavioral/Empirical Research Journals.  Historical Research "investigates the elusive truth about the past" (Phillips 8).  We can never truly, 100 percent prove something is correct and that we have the entire truth on the matter so we label the term as "elusive."  Historical Research Journals study the past.  To study the past means that we hope to learn more about the present as well as the future.

Philosophical Research is "important in helping to define why we do what we do" (Phillips 9).  This genre of research article is the least developed.  But it is starting to be used more and more.

Behavioral/Empirical Research "studies how people think about music, how they perform under certain conditions, how they react at various ages, and so forth" (Phillips 10).  This research investigates the behaviors of humans.  This research in music education investigates the behaviors of humans in a music setting.

The Quantitative versus. Qualitative Articles are really interesting.  To me, the quantitative articles are the articles I associate with science and math.  There are a lot of statistics in the articles and that is not my strong suit.  However, I really had no idea Qualitative Articles existed!  I find those fascinating because I can still learn and I don't get drowned by numbers and terms that are unfamiliar to me.

In addition, Mixed Method Articles are such a great way to go!  Mixed Method utilizes both the Quantitative and the Qualitative modes!  To me, I really enjoy reading the Mixed Method Articles because they are written in the style of Qualitative Articles but utilize the statistics and research designs of the Quantitative Articles.

In addition to reading the book by Phillips, we have also begun to read "Action Research: Improving Schools and Empowering Educators" by Craig. A. Mertler.  This book is not geared to just music education but to education in general.  Mertler explains that Action Research is research done by teachers.  Mertler explains that teachers are constantly analyzing and understanding what they do in their classrooms in order to improve as an educator.  Putting those findings into paper is Action Research.  Most experiments in Action Research are done again and again and again so that teachers can constantly understand and improve.

This class is off to an amazing start!  I feel as though I've learned so much in the past week and I can't wait to use what I have found in my own classroom!

Wonderments

My name is Mary Witaszek.  I just completed my first year teaching.  This past year I taught grades Pre-K through 8th grade in general music, chorus, and musical theatre.  However, I am switching to a new school and district in the fall and I will now be in charge of Pre-K through 6th grade general music, chorus, orff ensemble, and helping with the orchestra.  I will be, in the fall, in Melbourne, Florida.  This past year I was in Orlando.

My wonderments:

I wonder if I am effectively teaching the skills of sight-reading to my students.

I wonder if I will be able to implement an effective portfolio system as I venture to my new school.

I wonder if I can effectively connect students to the music in the classroom but connecting it to music they might listen to outside of the classroom.