Making space for singing in the 21st century classroom – A focus group interview study with primary school music teachers in Sweden

• Published in: British journal of music education 2024-07, Vol.41 (2), p.209-223
• Main Authors: Bojner Horwitz, Eva, Thorarinn Johnson, David, Lyberg-Åhlander, Viveka, Sahlén, Birgitta, Laukka, Petri, Bygdéus, Pia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Classrooms; Education; Elementary schools; Families & family life; Focus groups; Interviews; Language acquisition; Language Skills; Learning; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Music Education; music teacher; music teacher education; Music teachers; Musikpedagogik; primary school; Psychology; psykologi; Quality of life; Sanghalsa; School environment; Singing activities; sånghälsa; Work experience
• ISSN: 0265-0517; 1469-2104; 1469-2104
• DOI: 10.1017/S0265051723000360

The present study aimed to increase understanding of how singing activities may be initiated in primary school, and what support and assistance teachers require to conduct singing activities as an integrated part of the school day. Five music teachers participated in a focus group interview. The following main themes were identified: 1) pedagogical and methodological flexibility, 2) the role of routines and familiarity, 3) the embodied and multimodal dimensions of singing, 4) the importance of accompaniment and instruments, 5) the experience of insecurity and obstacles and 6) the perceived synergies between singing and other learning activities. This knowledge may be important to integrate within music teacher education in order to secure singing’s place in schools.