Describing Elementary Certification Methods across the Elementary Music Career Cycle

The purpose of the study was to describe elementary music method choice and certification method choice overall and across the elementary music career cycle. Participants (N = 254) were categorized as Level I or Elementary Division in a southwestern music education association database. The questionnaire included 25 four-point Likert-type items that measured music curriculum alignment to given methods and agreement with statements concerning respondent school district curriculum, personal method practices, and motives concerning the pursuit of one or more method certifications. Gathered information was converted into descriptive statistics. Kodály and Orff were the method certifications of choice overall and across the elementary music career cycle. Perceptions and motives varied little across the career cycle. Conclusions include suggestions concerning professional development.