Collaborative Service-Learning: Sharing Music in a Preschool Classroom

Abstract

The benefits of service-learning experiences for preservice undergraduate students are well-documented. However, the perspectives of in-service teachers and their students are not commonly presented in the literature. There is a need for more research examining the impact of service-learning experiences on all stakeholders. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the perspectives of preservice undergraduate students, a local preschool teacher, and her preschool students as they shared musical experiences in a collaborative service-learning model. We found that the preschoolers enjoyed music lessons and were able to recall specific musical concepts. Preservice undergraduates expanded their teacher identity, confidence, and flexibility, but still did not feel like experts. The preschool teacher expanded her ability to provide musically rich experiences to her preschoolers but reported challenges with lesson planning. We conclude with implications for university supervisors and researchers interested in creating equitable service-learning opportunities.