Developmentally appropriate strategies of teaching music in selected primary schools in Ashanti region of Ghana
Adjepong, Benjamin
In Ghanaian primary schools, music is a compulsory study area which is taught by
generalist teachers. However, information is deficient on the strategies teachers use to
implement the music curriculum. The aim of this study was to determine how teachers
organise musical learning experiences in terms of developmentally appropriate practice
(DAP) for lower primary school pupils. DAP is an educational concept which refers to
teaching strategies that consider children’s age, abilities, interests and experiences, to
help them achieve challenging and achievable goals. The study was underpinned by the
concept of teaching within the context of constructivist theory. Qualitative Interpretative
Phenomenological Analysis and ethnographic research methods were used to find
answers to the research questions. Data were collected by means of observations,
interviews and document analysis.
Singing, movements and the playing of improvised instruments (although they constitute
only a part of the planned music curriculum in the Creative Arts syllabus) dominate the
music activities provided in the schools. In fact, unplanned music activities dominate
planned music lessons due to teachers’ perceived lack of adequate training to teach
music, the non-application of ICT in teaching, a lack of teaching and learning materials,
unsuitable physical conditions for teaching, lack of motivation and support to teach, and
lack of time to teach music because of the emphasis on meeting the targets of teaching
and assessment in core subjects. Strategies the teachers adopt to overcome the challenges
they encounter in teaching music include collaboration with their colleagues in planning,
teaching and integrating music into most classroom activities and drawing on pupils’
expertise in teaching and learning. It is recommended that teachers be given in-service
training, that specialist teachers be used, and that adequate teaching and learning
materials be provided, as well as support for teachers to integrate ICT in teaching music.
Limitations associated with the study make generalisation of the findings impossible. A
larger sample from various primary schools within the Ashanti region of Ghana should
be considered for further research. Functional integration of music in the other subject
areas within the Ghanaian context should also be explored and further studies should be
conducted about the application of developmentally appropriate practice in teaching
music in the lower-primary classroom.
Abstracts in English, Ndebele and Xhosa
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