Source: Collins, A. & Hocking, R. (2023) Fading Notes: the State of Music Education for the Next Generation of Primary Teachers – Full Report.
Alberts | The Tony Foundation.
Training practicum and teaching employment
The average is now 8 hours, down from 17 in 2009.
Teaching confidence and competence
Music education skills
among primary teachers
0 20 40 60 80
%
58% of surveyed universities said primary teaching students do not observe or participate in music
lessons while on practicum.
71% of surveyed universities said primary teaching students did not expect to be teaching music in the classroom.
% of respondents* who agreed that over 80% of
their graduating initial teachers could confidently and competently teach music education up to the following Australian Curriculum grade levels
Grade 2 Grade 4 Grade 6 42%
25%
14%
0 3 6 9 12
www.teachermagazine.com Victoria ACT Northern Queensland South New South Tasmania Western
Territory Australia Wales Australia
Hrs
6.06hrs 6.5hrs 6.5hrs 7.95hrs 8hrs
12hrs 12hrs 9.39hrs
The new Fading Notes report explores the provision of music education in Australian primary teaching degrees. Researchers surveyed lecturers responsible for music education within Initial Teacher Education degrees, representing a student pool of more than 4,600 primary teaching
students across 73% of universities delivering generalist primary teaching degrees. Topics included music training hours, and knowledge, skills and competency to teach. Here are some of the results.
Compulsory music education hours in a primary teaching degree
Background paper: Lukasz Szwaj/Shutterstock
%
0 20 40 60 80
* primary lecturers who took part in a follow-up interview
