Encouraging Creativity through Music Improvisation Activities: Pre-Service Primary General Teacher-Students' Reflections and Beliefs

This study focuses on exploring pre-service primary general teacher students' (N = 40) reflections on the opportunities they were given to awake their creativity, by participating systematically (13 weeks) in music improvisation activities, in the context of the course Music Education in a university classroom of a Greek Department of Primary Education. More specifically, it focuses on teacher-students' reflections on the implemented music improvisation activities, on team interactions, their perceptions regarding classroom atmosphere and the way they feel during their participation, their confidence-as future teachers-to integrate the music improvisation activities in their classroom, their preference for individual or group music improvisations activities, and their beliefs on the characteristics of a creative teacher. The improvisations were carried out individually, in pairs and in groups, using their voice, their body, and percussion musical instruments. Data were collected through observation, diary keeping, and questionnaires with open-ended and closed-ended questions. As the findings indicated the primary general teacher-students expressed positive attitude regarding the awaking of their own creativity, enjoyed their participation, developed a rather strong self-confidence to implement improvisational activities as future teachers and considered as creative teacher a well-prepared facilitator who ensures the conditions for an interesting, structured lesson and promotes cooperation.