How does a rock musician teach? Examining the pedagogical practices of a self-taught rock musician–educator

Abstract

This research examines the pedagogical practices of a self-taught musician who teaches music at an elementary school in Canada. Research on the ways that popular musicians teach has shown that many teachers use a combination of informal and formalized structures. We used Personhood theory as a conceptual framework to illuminate how the context and disposition of the musician–teacher informs their pedagogy. These findings demonstrate how context and disposition inform pedagogical practices and the ways that the teacher’s personhood contributes to students’ learning. We collected data through interviews with the teacher and school principal, distributed questionnaires to students and observed performances. Findings show that one’s personhood can contribute to the medium, message and messenger within a music education setting. Personhood theory helps frame the nested nature of these relationships and these findings point to the need to support development of in-service and pre-service teachers’ personhood.