An Assessment of the Classroom Performance of Music Teachers

Abstract

Information from a statewide norming study of all teachers was used to compare the I performance of music teachers and other teachers on 10 competencies and a variety of classroom behaviors. Music teachers' competency scores were below the mean for all teachers on 7 of the 10 competencies; however, music teachers' scores on specific classroom behaviors showed virtually no difference from those of other teachers on 94 of the 117 behaviors included on the Classroom Observation Instrument (COR). Music teachers outperformed other teachers in using materials and eliciting student performance; however, they had lower frequencies in their use of various types of questions. On an opinion questionnaire, music teachers tended to support the evaluation program; however, a number expressed concerns about the validity of the competencies for music teachers and the evaluators' expertise.