Abstract:
Definitions of creativity and creative music teaching were drawn from the literature to
produce three criteria for judging creativity in music teaching. Many previous studies
have found various factors, such as confidence in teaching and teacher training on
creativity, to have important effects on both teaching and creativity. However, few
studies have focused explicitly on the effects of a music education course on creativity
in music teaching. This study tested for these effects using grades awarded for music
education as the main variable. Subjects were first year music education students who
were all high achievers in music performance. Data were gathered from the following:
Formal and Informal Musical Experience Questionnaire; Teaching EXperience
Questionnaire; final grades for a music education course. Significant effects offinal
grades in the music education course on creativity scores in teaching were observed,
with no effects of musical experience on these scores. One interesting observation was
that significant effects were found on music education scores from high and low levels
offormal musical experience, with both inducing low music education scores. It was
concluded that the main predictor of success in creative music teaching is instruction in
teaching in a music education programme.
