Music Theory Knowledge and Skills for Beginning Music Teachers: A Descriptive Survey Report. Number 1.

Opinions of New York state public school music teachers were sought to (1) obtain an initial profile of the knowledge and skills needed and actually used by beginning music teachers in the areas of aural skills, written skills, combined aural and written skills, and theoretical knowledge of musical types; and (2) determine if this profile of knowledge and skill areas will vary when examined by area of specialization and level of teaching duties. Data were collected by questionnaires from randomly selected sample of the public school music teachers in the state. Of 400 inquiries, 208 response sheets were returned. An analysis of the data reveals that (1) the written skills associated with score reading, score preparation, and transportation are most needed and used; (2) the aural skills most needed are those of sightseeing and detecting errors of all types; and (3) there is a slight weighting toward the pop-commercial type of music in terms of need, but on the use side, folk, pop, and ethnic music are used most often. When examined by areas of both specialization and level of teaching duties, the differences are more a matter of degree than direction. (Author/LBH)