The7thInternatonalConferenceforResearchinMusicEducation PROPOSAL

Significanceofmusicalityingeneralmusiceducation: Estonianmusicteachers'notion
Paperpresentation
MaritMistlik1&TiinaSelke2 TallinnUniversity moistlik@gmail.com

Abstract Thispaperpresentationisbasedonoutcomesofthestudywhichwascarriedoutbetween December 2009 and January 2010. The objective was to ascertain Estonian music teachersnotionsofmusicalityandassessmentcriteriainthelesson.Wealsosetoutto investigate whetherteachers assess pupils according totheirown notion ofmusicality, exploringittroughteachersassessmentofsinging,playingmusicalinstrumentsandother musiclessonactivities.Threeresearchquestionswereposed:(1)whatismusicteachers notionofmusicalityinEstonia,(2)whatdomusicteachersassessinmusiclessons,and (3)howismusicteachersnotionofmusicalityrelatedtotheirprinciplesofassessment. Historically, musicalityhasbeeninterpretedasmusicalskills,primarilytheabilitytosing. Todaymusicalityisviewedfromaconsiderablywiderperspective.Thus,ontheonehand, musicteachersopenupthepathtotheworldofmusic,ontheother,theyassesschildrens musicaldevelopment. Whenspeakingofmusicality,itisnecessarytopointoutthechangesattheendofthe20 th century, when beside the widely spread aesthetic (traditional) philosophy, as counterbalance, praxial philosophy of music education emerged. The substantial differencebetweenthetwophilosophiesistheconceptofmusicorhowtointerpretthe natureofmusic.Isitamusicalcomposition,asapieceofmusic(aestheticphilosophy)or anymeaningfulpurposefullyorganisedtone,soundornoiseandtoneexperience asin praxial philosophy? Do music teachers have a clear philosophical view in mind when assessingpupilsorcharacterisingtheirownnotionofmusicality?Whatisvalued,whatis not? In this presentation I would like to present the results of abovementioned study and discusstheideaofmusicteaches'positionasjudgesofmusicalityanditspossibleimpact onlifelonginvolvementwithmusic.
Keywords: notionofmusicality,assessmentcriteriainmusiceducation,Estonianmusicteachers assessmentsingeneralmusic.

1 Marit Mistlik is a doctoral student of Educational Sciences and lecturer of the DepartmentofMusicatTallinnUniversity,Estonia.Herfieldofresearchismusicpedagogy includingtherapeuticapproachofmusicinclassroommusiclessons. 2TiinaSelkeisAssociateProfessorandHeadofMusicDepartmentatTallinnUniversity, Estonia. Herfieldofresearchiscultureandsocietyandeducationwithmusicalityasa primaryresearchinterest.