Comparative music education in partnership: examining policy and provision of music in initial teacher education in Ireland and Northern Ireland

ABSTRACT

This article investigates policy and provision of music in initial teacher education (ITE) in Ireland and Northern Ireland through a novel approach to comparative music education in ITE. Employing literature reviews and a survey of music ITE policy and provision in the two jurisdictions, it draws on a range of primary and secondary sources and presents a summary of comparative findings from the MITE project, carried out between 2017-2018. Key similarities include corresponding provision for music in B.Ed. (primary) programmes; the residual influence of denominational institutions; and the dominance of consecutive over concurrent models of secondary music ITE. Among major differences charted are distinct models of provision for music instruction outside of schools, participation rates in secondary courses, and varying approaches to cultural diversity in statutory music curricula.

The article advances an original framework for comparative research in music education which may provide a conduit and stimulus for future comparative studies in music teacher education. It proposes to enable networking opportunities across primary and secondary music ITE providers, within and beyond borders, and inform strategies for meeting common challenges for music ITE in prevailing policy contexts.

KEYWORDS:

• comparative music education
• initial teacher education
• Ireland and Northern Ireland
• music education policy and provision
• music teacher educators

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 ‘Secondary’ is used throughout the article to refer to all types of post-primary level schools.

2 See Marie McCarthy's chapter, "Fostering a Culture of Research in Irish Music Education" in the inaugural volume (2023, forthcoming) of Studies in Irish Music Education, edited by J. O'Flynn and P. Flynn.

3 All ITE courses were similarly conducted during the Covid-19 pandemic.

4 Central Statistics Office, EDA86, Leaving Certificate Programme (LCP) Subject Provision and Take Up, 2020, https://data.cso.ie/, accessed 6 April 2021.

5 Central Statistics Office, EDA86

6 https://www.musicgeneration.ie/content/files/PerformanceMusicEducation.pdf, accessed 19 January 2020.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

John O’Flynn

John O’Flynn is Associate Professor of Music at Dublin City University.

Gwen Moore

Gwen Moore is Director of Teaching and Learning and Senior Lecturer (Music Education) at Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick.

Frances Burgess

Frances Burgess is Senior Lecturer in Music at St Mary’s University College Belfast.

Jayne Moore

Jayne Moore is Senior Lecturer and Programme Coordinator for Teacher Education (Primary) at Stranmillis University College, Belfast.