Exploratory and Creative Practices in Undergraduate Brass Techniques Coursework

Coursework across the music education curriculum provides teacher educators an opportunity to introduce and reinforce a range of instructional practices (i.e., creating, performing, responding to, and connecting with music) into the music classroom. Although instrument techniques courses are a foundational part of an undergraduate music education curriculum, previous research suggests that preservice music educators perceive these courses to be less impactful on their future careers than other courses in the curriculum. To create meaningful and transferable learning experiences, music teacher educators can include elements of experimentation, mistake-making, and creativity in brass techniques courses to provide preservice music educators with opportunities for independent learning and problem-solving. By offering these pedagogical techniques, music teacher educators can also model constructivist practices for students to use in their future classrooms.