Developing Strategic Thinkers through Music Teacher Education: A "Best Practice" for Overcoming Professional Myopia and Transforming Music Education

Overview & Synopsis

In this article, the author employs systems theory and organizational theory to illustrate how music education is an occupation instead of a profession and that most music educators think and function at the tactical level. The lack of a true education organization and career ladder for teachers, and that those operating at the tactical level control music education practice and the professional development of teachers keeps music education from developing strategic thinkers, becoming a profession, and meeting its social responsibility. The way to improve music education is to broaden the thought level of K-12 teachers during their preservice degree programs and nurture strategic thinking throughout their careers. The author provides a model of how this is being done in one program. (Contains 12 notes and 1 figure.)