Music education in Puerto Rican elementary schools: A study from the perspective of music teachers

Impact Factor:0.286 | Ranking:Education & Educational Research 196 out of 224

Source:2014 Journal Citation Reports® (Thomson Reuters, 2015)

1. Ricardo López-León, University of Puerto Rico — Rio Piedras Campus, Faculty of Education, Laboratory Elementary School, Gandara Ave. #29, San Juan, 00931, Puerto Rico. Email: rlopezleon{at}hotmail.com

Abstract

This article presents, for the first time, descriptive research on the status of music education in Puerto Rican public elementary schools. General music education at elementary schools on the island has been part of the school offering for more than 50 years. As yet, music education at this level has not been recognized as an essential discipline in the Department of Education’s official curriculum. The official governmental positions are contradictory to the reality of the teaching of music. As a result, this study is directed at obtaining a true understanding of the factors by performing research using 228 music educators from different areas of the Puerto Rican territory as the main suppliers of information. A questionnaire, validated by 15 experts, was administered to the 228 highly qualified in-service music teachers, and a 100% response rate was obtained. Overall, the results revealed that music teachers from Puerto Rico are performing under less than ideal teaching conditions.

Article Notes

• Funding This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.