Barriers Perceived by Music Teachers in the Adoption of UNESCOs Arts in Education Approach

Abstract

what to teach, how to teach, with whom, and so on. ■ Barrier of support: Teachers want more professional, practical training to prepare themselves to employ the AiE approach to their class within an agreeable environment.

This research investigates whether the Arts in Education(AiE) approach declared at Road Map for Arts Education by UNESCO was delivered well to Korean music teachers and aims to figure out obstacles to adopt AiE approach to class with musical elements at a teacher's level. The semi-structured interview with 8 Korean music teachers describes teachers' perspective on AiE approach. First, the AiE approach of UNESCO was largely unknown to the teachers, but the majority of them agree on the need for adoption of it. Teachers have dual identities

having high responsibility as a music teacher ensuring the essense of music education and a school teacher considering students' joyful learning and life with music. The balance between identities determines a teachers reason to consider applying the AiE approach in his/her class.

Second, teachers came up with great ideas when introduced to the AiE approach. Although they initially felt the idea was quite unfamiliar and non-feasible, when given a chance to imagine the possibilities, they gave examples similar to or even more creative than examples in Road Map for Arts Education.

Third, teachers had a generally positive opinion about the possible educational effect of the AiE approach, but felt negative about the possibility of its successful adoption within the current Korean education system. However, they appeared willing to do something to make changes by themselves such as participating teacher training or doing new trial in their class.

In conclusion, barriers to adoption of UNESCOs AiE approach by Korean music teachers can be summarized as follows.

■ Barrier of recognition: they have low familiarity in Arts in Education approach of UNESCO. ■ Barrier of usage: they are less familiar with skills in trying to make a plan for 'music in education'