Impacts of an Early Childhood Field Placement for Preservice Music Educators

Abstract

Fieldwork experiences for undergraduate music education majors provide opportunities to gain a deeper understanding of child and musical development, as well as to develop in the role of teacher. Early childhood music fieldwork experiences are critical to preservice music educators in order to gain insight into the specific needs of young learners and increase preparedness to teach in a variety of musical settings. Critical examination of the fieldwork opportunities provided to undergraduate music education majors in the early childhood music setting could provide benefit to all preservice music educators. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to investigate one early childhood fieldwork placement and its impacts on the preparation of three undergraduate music education majors. Implications related to the importance of early childhood music education fieldwork experiences for preservice music educators are discussed.