Perceived Concerns of Preservice Music Education Teachers: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore perceived concern.s of preservice music education teachers across four different points in professional development. A 45-item Teacher Concerns Checklist (Borich, 2000), based upon Fuller and Bown's (1975) three-stage model of teacher development, identified respondents' levels of self-concerns, task concerns, and impact concerns. Participants included 1,121 preservice music educators from 16 institutions of higher education in the United States. Data analysis indicated Field Experience/Practicum students held higher levels of concern than did students in Introduction to Music Education, Methods, and Student Teaching. Fernales consistently held higher concerns than did males. Students indicating a preference to teach elementary level or university level held higher concerns than those intending to teach high school. At all professional development points, impact concerns ranked highest, followed by self concerns, with task concerns ranked lowest. Implications for music teacher educators and suggestions for further research are discussed.