An International quartet of voices: sharing songs and culture beyond borders

ABSTRACT

Providing students with opportunities to experience culturally diverse music traditions is an important, yet complex task for music educators. In this study, the author participants (four tertiary music educators from different places in the world) facilitated a series of online workshops based on songs from culturally diverse settings with a group of pre-service teachers at a Spanish university. Through autoethnographical vignettes, they share their individual and collective experiences. This paper foregrounds the importance of disrupting the hegemonic cycle of focusing on Western music in education programmes and the importance of fostering transnational collaborations between music educators in different parts of the world. Findings indicate that music educators who are willing to share their unique musical perspectives and experiences beyond cultural and geographic boundaries can cultivate learning environments that are diverse, inclusive, relevant, timely, meaningful, and fun for all involved.

KEYWORDS:

• Cultural diversity
• music education
• vignettes
• teacher education
• collaboration

Disclosure statement

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

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the US-Spain Fulbright Association.

Notes on contributors

Jennifer Mellizo

Dr. Jennifer Mellizo is the K-8th grade music teacher at the University of Wyoming Laboratory School in Laramie, WY, USA. She was named a Wyoming Arch Coal Teacher of the Year in 2014, the Albany County School District Teacher of the Year in 2016, and received a 2021 Fulbright US Scholar Research Award to Spain. In addition to her teaching duties, she is a frequent presenter at regional, national, and international music education conferences and a curriculum developer for Smithsonian Folkways Recordings in Washington DC.

Alberto Cabedo-Mas

Dr. Alberto Cabedo-Mas is Associate Professor of Music Education at the University Jaume I of Castellón, Spain. He is author of several articles and chapters in international and national books and refereed journals. He is Co-director of the journal Eufonía: Didáctica de la Música, Associate editor of the Journal of the Study of Education and Development, and serves as editorial board member in national and international journals. His research interests include music education, coexistence, community music, interculturality and the transmission of music across cultures.

Dawn Joseph

Dr. Dawn Joseph is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Arts and Education (Deakin University). She serves on international and national editorial boards of refereed journals. Her research includes music education, community music, African music, and aging and well-being in the Arts. She was twice Chair of the Australian Society for Music Education (Victorian Chapter) and served on the National Committee. Presently a committee member on the Australian New Zealand Association for Research in Music Education.

Rohan Nethsinghe

Dr. Rohan Nethsinghe is a Senior Lecturer in Creative Arts Education at the Faculty of Education, University of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. His research interests are in the areas of music, performing arts and creative arts education, arts integration, authentic and multicultural music education. His research in multicultural music has contributed to the enhancement and scholarship of teaching and learning in teacher education. Rohan is a committee member on the Australian New Zealand Association for Research in Music Education.