Making connections: A case study of pre-service music education students' attitudinal change to indigenous music

Approaches to the teaching of culturally diverse music programs have become an increasing concern of international music educators in recent years. These concerns are reflected in the Australian state of New South Wales where teachers of all curriculum areas are responsible for educating all students about Aboriginal heritage and cultures. As a consequence of limited guidelines regarding the use of Aboriginal music in schools and perceived shortcomings of preservice training in providing models for the teaching of Aboriginal music programs, many teachers lack the confidence to engage in such programs. This article discusses the effect of a 1997 project conducted with pre-service education students at a university in Sydney. The project, involving fieldwork study of an Aboriginal performer in residence program at a Sydney school, is seen to have positively affected student attitudes to the teaching of Aboriginal music in educational settings. It is presented as an example of the way in which personal contact with culture-bearers can create new levels of cross-cultural understanding for music education students.