Key Elements of Preparation and Transition for an Instrumental Major Teaching Elementary General Music

The purpose of this case study was to describe the experience of a first year music educator teaching outside of his specialization. The participant, Joseph, had completed an instrumental music education degree and, at the time of the study, was teaching elementary general music. Research questions were designed to investigate how Joseph navigated the differences between his expected employment prior to graduation and the realities of his current teaching position, as well as the critical experiences he considered to be most relevant to his preparedness for achieving success in his current job. Implications for music teacher educators include the importance of discussing the realities of the job market, incorporating activities that develop self-efficacy, and providing authentic-context learning experiences

The Academic-Support Group: Peer Mentoring Experiences of Early-Career Music Teacher Educators

The transition from doctoral student to higher education faculty member provides a unique set of challenges. Individuals attempt to balance research, service, and teaching requirements while also experiencing changes in their personal lives, such as geographical relocation. Peer-mentoring of early-career faculty may be used to support this challenging period and support the longevity of those who follow this career path. Therefore, the purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the peer-mentoring experience of a group of early-career elementary general music teacher educators. Research questions were: (1) How did participants describe the experience of peer-mentoring? (2) How did participation impact participants personally, and; (3) How did participation impact participants professionally? We present our findings in four themes related to “finding our place” within our peer-mentoring group and the larger scope of higher education to share our experiences and encourage peer mentoring among early-career music teacher educators