Waldorf Music Education: Foundations for Excellence

Transcription

1 Foundations for Excellence 1 Waldorf Music Education: Foundations for Excellence Janet McCandlas Donato-Polli Strasse 50, Erlangen Germany May 10, 2012 janet.mccandlas@gmail.com Approved Date Project Reader Approved Date Project Reader

2 Foundations for Excellence 2 Table Of Contents Abstract...3 Introduction...4 The Case for Strong Specialty Programs in the Waldorf School...4 Chapter One: The Waldorf Music Program Survey... 8 Interpreting the Waldorf Music Program Survey Data Developing Schools: Findings and Observations Member Schools: Findings and Observations Conflicting and Confusing Responses Recommendations What is the Plan? Implementing the Music Survey Data Chapter Two: Strategic Planning and the Waldorf Music Program Value Assignments in Music Education Strategic Planning: The Necessary Foundation of a Successful Music Program The Importance of Defining Educational Goals in Music Program Planning...65 The National Standards for Music Education: A Brief Introduction...67 The National Standards for Music Education...68 Adapting the National Standards for Music Education to the Waldorf Curriculum...70 Example of a Strategic Plan for a Waldorf School Music Program...73 Strategic Planning: Conclusions Chapter Three: Program Focus and Resource Management Over-Specialization of Music Teachers, Class Teachers Becoming Specialists Choosing the Direction of the Music Program Middle School Ensemble Options General Music Education as the Core of the Waldorf Music Program Common Music Education Methodologies in the United States The Orff Method: Ten Thousand Teachers Strong The Kodaly Method: Vocal Education for All The Dalcroze Method: The Connection Between Music and Movement Case Studies of Waldorf Music Programs in the United States The Illusion of Abundance in Waldorf Music Program Resources The Role of Private Lessons in the School Music Culture Chapter Four: Music Teacher Position, Staffing, and Professional Development The Eighty Percent, or Sixteen Classes Per Week Music Position Template Sample of a Job Advertisement for a Music Teacher University Music Degrees: What do They Actually Mean? The Value of Professional Memberships The Importance of Professional Development and Mentoring in Music for Class Teachers Concluding Thoughts Appendix The AWSNA Music Program Survey Copy of Cover Letter Sent With Waldorf Music Program Survey References

3 Foundations for Excellence 3 Abstract Nearly a century has passed since the founding of the first Waldorf school. The world has changed tremendously since that time, but the goal of the Waldorf education movement remains the same: the desire to educate the whole child, with the view of helping every student unlock his or her individual potential. How can the Waldorf music program aid in reaching this goal? By means of a national survey of Waldorf music programs, this paper will gather logistical information and discover trends in program management, staffing, and structure. It will discuss the value of strategic planning, resource management, and the use of qualified staff in sustainable job positions. This paper includes examples of educational goals and objectives as outlined in the National Standards for Music Education, which have been adjusted to reflect the anthroposophic view of child development. Also included are examples of strategic planning for the music program, outlines of the music curriculum for Grades 1-8 as expressed through educational goals and objectives, templates for an 80 percent to full-time job description for the school music director, and examples of job postings. An examination of how the private music lesson is related to the overall music program, advocacy for the inclusion of general classroom music in the Grade 1-8 music curriculum, and a presentation of different music methodologies comprises one section of this paper. Ensemble options for the middle school, and case studies of Waldorf schools that have chosen non-typical music programs for various reasons, are related in this section as well. Finally, this paper will demonstrate the importance of professional development for both class teachers and music teachers, and will consider professional memberships and other training programs. It will further consider the differences between different types of music degrees in order that the most qualified staff possible can be hired by the school community. Taken collectively, this information can be of great assistance in forming a sustainable music teaching position and program. Establishing the foundations for program excellence is of benefit to the entire school community and may be helpful in addressing the growing concern of teacher attrition.

4 Foundations for Excellence 4 Introduction Waldorf Schools in the United States claim that music is part of their core curriculum. Is this really the case? How are Waldorf music programs structured, funded, and staffed? Are there issues with teacher attrition in the music program, and are class teachers expected to take on responsibilities in the music program that are beyond their training? Is professional development offered to support both music and class teachers in the area of music education? This paper examines the state of music education in American Waldorf schools and makes recommendations for strengthening program structure, resource management, and staffing. The Case for Strong Specialty Programs in the Waldorf School Historically, the Waldorf school curriculum has included the presence of specialty programs, or 'special subjects.' The first Waldorf school had on its faculty a number of teachers who held specializations in specific areas of knowledge such as music, foreign language, and eurythmy. The class teachers, in contrast, held a generalized field of knowledge that provided the foundational aspects of the child's education. This balance of generalists and specialists was essential to forming a comprehensive educational experience for students (von Heydebrand, 2010). Nearly a century has passed since the founding of the first Waldorf school. Although many aspects of our society, culture, and education systems have changed tremendously, the ideals held by the first Waldorf faculty hold true: the education of the whole human being, for the purpose of unlocking the potential for self-realization in every student.

5 Foundations for Excellence 5 With this ideal in mind, it is good to periodically examine our methods, programs, and curriculum to identify strengths to be built on and weaknesses to address. When we consider the last several decades of the movement, we can see that the expansion of Waldorf education in the United States during the 1970s and 1980s created an overall teacher shortage that still exists today. Because of this shortage and because of the general lack of resources associated with new schools, it was not uncommon for class teachers to teach special subject lessons in addition to main lesson work. What was a stop-gap practice has, in many communities, become expected of class teachers; a make-do decision has become pedagogical practice. The long-term result of this practice has been a lack of robustness in specialty programs in many schools, because it is 'built-in' to the community consciousness that class teachers teach almost every aspect of the curriculum. Even when funding for a specialty position becomes available, class teachers may continue teaching at least some aspect of the special subjects close to their hearts. When budget issues arise, it has become an acceptable option in some communities to lay off a specialty teacher or not to rehire for their position if they resign, and to allow a class teacher to teach the program in addition to their own class. This practice promotes the idea that specialty teachers are auxiliaries to the 'core faculty' of class teachers, and perhaps even that they are expendable. As a result, special subjects have had difficulty being recognized as full-time programs in their own merit in American Waldorf schools. Specialty classes have remained very much individualized to each school culture, rather than becoming standardized in the way that the core curriculum of reading, writing, and mathematics have been. What is the long-term impact of such pedagogical practices? Have they strengthened or weakened the Waldorf pedagogical model in the United States? Have they brought the faculty and overall curriculum

6 Foundations for Excellence 6 into greater, or less, balance than the original Waldorf pedagogical model? We must examine the pedagogical practices that we perhaps take for granted, and ask if they are sustainable. Are they the best way to meet the needs of our school communities today? The Waldorf education movement benefits from retaining trained and experienced teachers, but in recent years, teacher attrition has been on the rise. In the Waldorf pedagogical model, the class teacher journeys with their class from Grade One through Grade Eight. This is becoming the exception, rather than the rule, in a number of Waldorf schools. Could the heavy expectations that are placed on class teachers regarding teaching not only their own classes, but aspects of various specialty programs, be a contributing factor in the growing issue of class teacher attrition? Could the marginalization of specialty teachers in the Waldorf school be a contributing factor to subject teacher attrition? Most importantly, could strengthening the subject programs in Waldorf schools alleviate attrition amongst both class and subject teachers? Some of these questions are beyond the scope of this paper to answer. However, they must stay in the mind of the reader when considering the topics that it does encompass. Waldorf education is not a series of stand-alone concepts and programs. The curriculum is fully integrated, both in general classes and special subjects, and oftentimes the health of one program is an indicator of the health of the overall school community. In addressing issues such as teacher attrition or overall program quality and integration, it is best to first consider what we have built into the curriculum and the structure of our schools, before going back to the drawing board to find different options. With the ideal of strengthening the overall curriculum, faculty and quality of education in the Waldorf school, this paper will examine the special subject program of music in detail. It will strive to discover

7 Foundations for Excellence 7 the relationship of the music program to the overall school strategic plan, and will look at resource allocation and management. Of particular interest is the position of the music teacher itself. How many hours are offered to music teachers, and is the position structured to be sustainable? Are class teachers expected to take on aspects of the music program that are beyond their training and experience? Are these aspects better handled by music teachers? How can the music teacher help ease the load of the class teacher, and provide balance to the overall curriculum? It is important to realize that advocacy for a comprehensive music program, directed by a trained specialist, is not just for its own sake. As it was in the first Waldorf school, the music program is an intrinsic part of the full Waldorf curriculum today, and the music specialist is a vital part of the full Waldorf faculty today as well. The greater role the music teacher assumes in the musical life of the school, the more support they can give their colleagues, and the better quality of instruction they are able to give their students. This paper proposes that if the Waldorf music program can be strengthened through sound strategic planning, prudent resource management, and the hiring and retention of the most qualified personnel possible, it will enhance the quality of, and add vitality to, the overall Waldorf educational movement.

8 Foundations for Excellence 8 Chapter One: The Waldorf Music Program Survey In February 2012, I sent a survey to all developing and member schools of the Associated Waldorf Schools of North America (AWSNA) that are in the United States. The survey consisted of 37 questions written with the intention to gain understanding of the makeup of the music program at Waldorf schools across the United States. The questions specifically addressed the following: strategic planning, teacher hours, qualifications, responsibilities, professional memberships, and possible attrition issues. They also addressed physical resources, budget amounts, music program structure, and whether students were required to take private lessons. Finally, they examined class teacher responsibilities to the music program, and whether support for both music and class teachers through mentoring and professional development was provided through the school community, or through outside sources. The goal of the survey was to accrue data regarding the makeup of the Waldorf music program, to see if there was any kind of standardization of such programs on a regional or national basis, to identify trends in program structure that were beneficially or adversely affecting program growth and stability, and to make recommendations to increase program effectiveness and overall success. Of the schools that were sent the survey, 38 responded. Taken as a whole, they represent both developing and full member schools in every region of AWSNA in the United States. For this reason, I consider this to be a representative survey of Waldorf music programs in the United States. What follows is a breakdown of the data that was collected via the national survey.

9 Foundations for Excellence 9 Demographic information. (Figure 1) I wished to know whether the school being surveyed was a developing or a full member school in AWSNA. Of the schools surveyed, 26 were full members of AWSNA, and 11 were developing schools. One respondent was a candidate for full membership in AWSNA. Their data was collated with developing schools. Figure 1

10 Foundations for Excellence 10 School population. (Figure 2) What is the highest grade taught in the schools that responded to the survey? The overwhelming majority of the schools are Grades 1-8 (29), with six schools being Grades 1-12, two schools being Grades 1-6, one school being Grades 1-7, and one school being Grades 1-4. Figure 2 Strategic planning. (Figure 3) Is the music program specifically mentioned in the school strategic plan? I found the results of this question to be quite interesting. Of the full member schools that responded to the survey, 13 mentioned the music program in the strategic plan, and 12 did not. This represents nearly half of all respondents that do not mention the music program in the strategic plan.

11 Foundations for Excellence 11 This is in contrast to developing schools, eight of which mentioned the music program in their strategic plan, and five of which did not. The most logical reason for this discrepancy between developing and member schools is the requirements outlined by AWSNA for developing schools to qualify for full member status. A comprehensive strategic plan is one of the key requirements for qualification for full member status in AWSNA. The overarching consequences of how this data effects other aspects of school music programs will be discussed in a later section. Figure 3

12 Foundations for Excellence 12 Size of the Music Program. (Figure 4) I wished to know if the music programs of the schools surveyed were in a pattern of stability, growth, or decline. The number of schools with programs in states of growth or stability either were the same, with a smaller number being in decline. The data suggests that music programs are therefore in a healthy condition in these schools. However, I discovered that 14 schools that said their programs were the same as they have been or larger than in the past either had no music specialist on staff, or had a music specialist working less than nine hours per week at the school. Figure 4

13 Foundations for Excellence 13 Music teacher attrition. (Figure 5) Is music teacher attrition an issue in the school? Fifteen schools said yes, but 23 schools said no. At first, this looked like a very positive sign for the robustness of the Waldorf music program. However, upon closer examination of the surveys, I discovered that five of the responding schools had no music specialist on staff. In three cases, the music teacher resigned and the position was never refilled. I feel that questions about teacher attrition are not relevant to schools that have no music teacher on staff, so I removed these schools from the respondents for this question and re-collated the data. The percentages changed from 39.5 percent responding yes, and 60.5 percent responding no; to 45.5 percent responding yes, and 54.5 percent responding no. This adjusted percentage represents a nearly 50/50 split of schools that say they have attrition issues, and those that do not have them.

14 Foundations for Excellence 14 Figure 5 Reasons for attrition. (Figure 6) Why do schools have issues with attrition in the music program? Again, the responses to this question were most interesting. Nearly every school surveyed answered this question, even the respondents who indicated that attrition was not an issue. By far the greatest reason for attrition was wages and benefits (16 schools, which represents 100 percent of those who answered the question), followed by too few hours (nine schools). Eight schools listed lack of anthroposophic training as a reason for attrition, six listed lack of qualified personnel, and four listed space and resource issues. In most cases, multiple areas were listed for a single school.

15 Foundations for Excellence 15 Figure 6 Music program staffing. (Figure 7) Of the schools that respond, 25 said they have at least one music teacher, 12 said they have more than one teacher on staff, one school has eliminated its music teacher position, and three schools have no music teacher. However, in looking at individual school surveys, I discovered a discrepancy in these numbers. Among member schools, three had no music specialists, and one school said that it only hired music specialists for required private lessons, while class teachers were responsible for teaching the actual music program. This arrangement was implied in at least four other cases, but because no clear statement was made, they are listed amongst those schools that have a

16 Foundations for Excellence 16 music specialist on staff. Among developing schools, three had no music specialists, and two music programs were taught by class teachers. These numbers change the data significantly. Instead of 2.8 percent of schools reporting no music specialist on staff, the actual number is 23.7 percent. I feel that the discrepancy is best explained by a lack of clarity on my part in phrasing the question. I wished to know which schools hired a person to specifically teach music, and no other program. It is apparent from the responses that in some schools, class teachers are taking on extra responsibilities in directing the music program.

17 Foundations for Excellence 17 Figure 7 Hours worked. (Figure 8) How many hours does each music teacher work per week? This was another graph that was at first difficult to interpret. The surveys needed to be examined individually for the data to make sense. When this was done, the data became more clear. Five schools had fulltime music specialists: two in developing schools and three in member schools. Grades 1-12 school communities had the greatest number of hours given to music specialists. Among member schools, the most common hour configuration was hours for one teacher, and 5-9 hours for a second (six schools). Among developing schools, the most common amount of hours were hours that were

18 either given to one teacher (four schools), or split between two teachers (two schools). Foundations for Excellence 18 Figure 8 What do the music specialists teach? (Figure 9) An examination of individual surveys showed a discrepancy between what schools say their music teachers teach, and what they actually teach. The most striking difference in the data is in the area of recorder class. Although most surveys indicated that music teachers teach recorder, an examination of comments and data regarding class teachers shows that class teachers teach almost all recorder in responding schools. The figures for teaching

19 Foundations for Excellence 19 band are slightly off, because of a lack of clarity in the question, which should have read, What do your music teachers teach in Grades 1-8? In schools that are Grades 1-12, band is offered in high school and not in Grades 1-8. Only two schools in the survey offered band options before Grade Nine, one of these being an after-school rather than school-day class. Another significant figure is that 23.7 percent of schools surveyed have class teachers conducting choir classes, rather than music teachers. Most of these schools have no music specialist on staff. Under the category of 'other,' 19 schools surveyed responded that music teachers taught other types of music than the ones listed. When examined the individual surveys, I found that one school taught drumming and one school taught ukelele in Grades 1-8. All other programs listed under this category were taught either in high school, or intermittently by class teachers, music teachers, or parents, at various times of the school's history (such as a guitar class or a course in playing dulcimers). Except for high school music classes, the programs listed under 'other' were in the nature of a temporary program addition or enhancement, rather than a regular part of the music curriculum.

20 Foundations for Excellence 20 Figure 9 Do music teachers teach literacy, theory, history, or composition and improvisation? (Figure 10) Music theory and literacy can be addressed in the context of an orchestral or choral rehearsal, so I expected the numbers to be highest for these categories. They were, with 29 schools saying that music teachers taught music literacy and 25 saying that music teachers taught music theory. Numbers for composition and improvisation were lower, with 16 schools saying these were taught. In looking at the individual surveys, I discovered that the majority of schools in which music teachers teach composition and improvisation are the same schools that hire a music teacher to teach classroom music through the

21 Foundations for Excellence 21 grades. Music history had the lowest numbers, with the majority of the 15 schools that responded affirmatively being Grades This makes sense, because music history is part of the high school curriculum. Figure 10 Do music teachers mentor other teachers? (Figure 11) Only 30 schools responded to this question, and eight schools left it unanswered. Since nine schools do not have music specialists, they may not have answered this question. Although the figures cannot be exact, when taking into account the schools

22 Foundations for Excellence 22 that have no music specialist on staff, I would say that the percentage of schools that do not provide mentoring of other teachers via the music teacher is higher than the chart suggests. Figure 11 Private lesson coordination. (Figure 12) Many schools require their students to take private music lessons, and music teachers may be asked to take on administrative duties of lesson coordination. Thirty-one schools responded to this question. I found contradictory information in the individual surveys regarding this question, mostly because several schools answered yes to this question, and then

23 Foundations for Excellence 23 said that their school had no private lesson requirement. Since I do not know exactly what is implied by this contradiction, I will let the data stand as it is. Figure 12 Background education and training of music specialists. (Figure 13) Waldorf schools seem to attract music teachers with a fairly high level of training. Schools responding to the survey said that 22 of the music specialists on their faculties have university degrees in music education, and that 23 music specialists have university degrees in music performance. They also have varying backgrounds in

24 Foundations for Excellence 24 anthroposophy, foundation studies, and class teacher training. These numbers indicate that there is a great potential for a uniformly high standard of music education in Waldorf schools. Figure 13 Professional memberships. (Figure 14) Of the responding schools, the largest percentage did not know if their music specialists had professional memberships. Ten schools said their music specialists did not, and nine schools said their music specialists did have these memberships.

25 Foundations for Excellence 25 Figure 14 Does the school have a dedicated music room? (Figure 15) Of the 33 respondents to the question, 19 did not have a dedicated music room in their school.

26 Foundations for Excellence 26 Figure 15 If the school has no music room, where are music lessons taught? (Figure 16) Thirty-three schools responded to the question. 20 schools used individual classrooms, seven used the assembly hall, eight used a multi-use room, and four used a eurythmy room for music classes. Four schools checked the box for 'other,' and upon reading their individual reports, I discovered that music classes were taught in the library at three schools and the teacher's room in one school.

27 Foundations for Excellence 27 Figure 16 Physical resources of the music program. (Figure 17) This was a very complex question. Generally speaking, every school had basic equipment such as music stands. Most schools had at least some Choroi instruments (tone bars, flutes, and lyres). Most schools also had a mix of percussion instruments, recorders, and other instruments. Only two schools surveyed had the instrumentarium used in Orff methodology. About half of the schools surveyed had dedicated storage space for instruments. Less than half surveyed had an ensemble library. A few schools listed instruments owned by individual teachers and loaned for school use under the category 'other'.

28 Foundations for Excellence 28 Figure 17 Annual budget. (Figure 18) Only 27 schools answered this question. When I examined the individual surveys, I found that those that did not answer the question were the schools with no music specialist, or schools that had a class teacher directing the music program. The assumption from this information could be that these schools had no music budget. Of responding schools, the most common budget figure was for dollars per year. Without exception, schools with an annual budget greater than 1500 dollars were schools that teach Grades 1-12.

29 Foundations for Excellence 29 Figure 18 What is the budget used for? (Figure 19) Most schools responding to this question used their budgets for purchasing student method books, expanding the music library, or instrument acquisition. Only one school used the money to rent concert space. Of those schools answering 'other,' the money was used for maintenance of school-owned instruments and piano tuning. One school said it used state grant money for larger purchases for the music program.

30 Foundations for Excellence 30 Figure 19 Configuration of the music program. (Figure 20) I wished to know if Waldorf schools are moving toward standardization in a required strings program percent (7 out of 13) of developing schools and 87.0 percent (20 out of 23) of member schools said that they had a required strings program, most often being strings in Grades 3-8. Of the 32 schools that responded to the question, 31 had a requirement for strings in Grade Four. Only five schools did not have this requirement, just under 14 percent of the combined figures of developing and member schools.

31 Foundations for Excellence 31 Figure 20 Private lesson requirements. (Figure 21) I wanted to know if Waldorf schools are trending toward requiring private music lessons. The majority of schools do not have this requirement, although 13 schools do have it.

32 Foundations for Excellence 32 Figure 21 Numbers of students that are required to take private lessons. (Figure 22) These numbers ranged from less than 25 (the greatest amount of schools responding), to more than 100 (the least amount of schools responding). Some of the respondents said that students were required to take private lessons for only one year when beginning an instrument, or only in the grade when the string block was taught. The majority of schools responding to this question required a multi-year commitment to private music lessons.

33 Foundations for Excellence 33 Figure 22 Do students have an option to play instruments other than strings? (Figure 23) In what grade do they have this option? The numbers on this chart are a bit misleading, because I did not phrase the question as precisely as I needed to. What I wanted to know was: in what grade, if any, do students have the option to not play a string instrument, perhaps being able to choose a band instrument instead? When I examined the individual responses, the information on the chart became more clear. Students typically are taught the recorder in Waldorf schools. For many of the schools responding, the option of an instrument other than a string instrument is the recorder, which is learned in addition to the string

34 Foundations for Excellence 34 instrument, not instead of it. Only in schools that are Grades 1-12 is the option to play a band instrument instead of a string instrument given, and these are schools with high school band programs. Figure 23 Are there ensemble requirements in the middle school? (Figure 24) Nearly all respondents had multiple ensemble requirements in the middle school.

35 Foundations for Excellence 35 Figure 24 Middle School ensemble options. (Figure 25) Most frequently, schools had options for choir and orchestra ensemble, followed closely by recorder ensemble. Only three schools had band options. Seven schools listed various configuration of challenge orchestra, chamber groups, and recorder groups under the category of 'other.' The only significantly different response was one respondent from a school with a ukelele ensemble.

36 Foundations for Excellence 36 Figure 25 Participation in outside festivals and interscholastic activities. Figure 26) Only four schools responded to this question. Overwhelmingly, the music program is held in-house at Waldorf schools, with little or no participation in interscholastic or community music events. The exception is found in schools that are Grades 1-12, and it is unclear whether the interscholastic events are reserved for the high school, or are also part of the middle school curriculum.

37 Foundations for Excellence 37 Figure 26 What involvement do class teachers have in the music program? (Figure 27) Thirty-six schools responding to the question had class teachers play recorder with their students, and 34 schools had class teachers sing with their students. Twenty-five schools expected class teachers to teach music literacy during recorder practice. In lesser numbers were other tasks including directing the recorder ensemble, or teaching students to play other instruments. These numbers suggest that class teachers need training specific to these tasks if they are to do them successfully.

38 Foundations for Excellence 38 Figure 27 Professional development for class teachers. (Figure 28) Of responding schools, there was a 2-to-1 ratio of schools who do not provide any professional development in music for class teachers, to schools that do provide it.

39 Foundations for Excellence 39 Figure 28 Do class teachers have formal music training? (Figure 29) Respondents listed a total of 44 class teachers with at least some degree of formal music training. According to the numbers in Figure 2, these schools have a total of 240 grades teachers on staff. Forty-four teachers represents only 18.3 percent of all class teachers in the responding schools, but the numbers may be incorrect because of lack of knowledge of class teacher background by survey respondents.

40 Foundations for Excellence 40 Figure 29 Do any grades teachers have university-level coursework in music performance or music education? (Figure 30) Only 10 teachers did, or 4 percent of all class teachers in the schools responding to the survey. Again, the information may be incorrect due to lack of knowledge of class teacher background by survey respondents.

41 Foundations for Excellence 41 Figure 30 How many grades teachers have completed Waldorf teacher training? Apparently, the survey did not allow for multiple boxes to be checked on this question. According to my collation of individual survey responses (the numbers were given in a comments box), at least 80 percent of the grades teachers in responding schools have completed Waldorf teacher training.

42 Foundations for Excellence 42 Figure 31 Professional development requirements. (Figure 32) A major component of continuing development for Waldorf teachers is the summer intensive, in which they prepare for the grade they will next teach. This is also an area in which professional development in the arts, including music, may take place. The split is almost 50/50 in respondents that require this professional development, and respondents that do not. Four respondents that said they require professional development then amended this answer in the comments section by saying that they strongly encourage it, but it is not required.

43 Figure 32 Foundations for Excellence 43

44 Foundations for Excellence 44 Interpreting the Waldorf Music Program Survey Data I approached this project with the aim of acquiring a substantial amount of logistical information about Waldorf music programs. I wished to gain information regarding music program size, staffing, budget, and resources. I also hoped to discover if Waldorf schools had difficulties in finding qualified staff to teach their music programs, and if there was a link between a teacher's level of education, qualifications and attrition. From where did Waldorf music teachers get professional development and support? Did they play a role in mentoring and professional development in their school communities? Did music teachers participate in school outreach by involving their students in the larger musical community? Were private lessons required of students? How many students were required to take private lessons in a student community, and what was the role of the music teacher in coordinating the lessons? This was linked with my interest in how many Waldorf schools had a required strings program, and how many ensembles middle school students were required to participate in. How did all of these factors play into the overall success of the music program? When I started this project, I had a few assumptions about the data I was collecting. Due to the economic downturn, I thought that I would see music programs being cut in hours or budget amounts, and this in turn would result in a high attrition of music teachers. I felt that there would be a clear link between strategic planning, resource allocation, and how well a music program was functioning. This would be especially apparent in developing schools, where

45 Foundations for Excellence 45 programs had not been established for long periods of time. With these questions in mind, I divided the schools into two groups: developing and member schools. I divided the member schools into two further groups: Grades 1-8 and Grades 1-12.

46 Developing Schools: Findings and Observations Foundations for Excellence 46 Of developing schools, five reported attrition of music teachers and four did not. Four additional schools had no music specialist on staff. Four schools had no mention of the music program in their strategic plan, and they all either had no music specialist, or they reported attrition. This demonstrates a possible link between the lack of strategic planning in the music program and music teacher attrition. One reason for this connection could be that strategic planning allows a program to be carried in the collective consciousness of the school community. It is less likely for the program to falter or fail when it is being given the regular attention of the governing bodies of the school. In the overall picture, however, only three developing schools that employed music specialists said that attrition was not an issue. Strategic planning or not, music programs still had problems retaining staff. Although respondents indicated several reasons for this issue, the standout indicator was the few amount of hours provided for music teachers. Most developing schools employed music teachers for less than 10 hours total per week. This meant that there may have been two music teachers at the school, but both worked for less than five hours per week. Only five developing schools employed music teachers for 10 hours or more per week. What was surprising about this was the comparison between hours that music teachers were employed, and the number of required ensembles in the middle school. While six schools had only one ensemble requirement in the middle school, seven schools had two or even three ensemble requirements. Many developing schools relied on class teachers to put in extra time as ensemble directors, or employed one

47 Foundations for Excellence 47 or two music teachers for only a few hours a week to conduct rehearsals. The bulk of teaching resources were thus used for middle school ensemble rehearsals, rather than general music education. Most developing schools had an annual music budget of less than 500 dollars, which was used primarily for the purchase of method books for students in required string classes. Only two schools had dedicated music rooms, and all but one school were equipped with the most basic equipment for their music programs, mostly music stands and folders. Perhaps surprisingly, in spite of low hours and limited resources, Waldorf schools attract trained professional musicians to their faculties. Most schools employ music teachers with university degrees in music. However, by far the majority of them hold degrees in music performance, rather than music education. Schools that hire a person with a degree in music performance need to remember that these candidates have no pedagogical training in their degree requirements, and may need substantial support in learning how to teach music to students of varied ages. This may be a factor in the comments of several schools, that said they have had a difficult time finding qualified personnel to teach music, even though their music teachers hold university degrees in music. Only three schools said they did not have a requirement for string education in Grades 1-8. Nine schools had a Grade Three or Four through Grade Eight string requirement. Seven of these schools required students to take private lessons. Developing schools often have had to find creative solutions for the problems posed by limited resources and staff. One school gave an example of a music specialist becoming a class teacher, who then took up the music program again when the replacement music teacher resigned. This is not an

48 Foundations for Excellence 48 uncommon situation in developing schools. When a specialty teacher moves to class teaching, their former position is either left unfilled, or the class teacher tries to carry both their class and the program they used to direct. One must ask the question of whether this leads to attrition of another sort, when the class teacher suffers from overwork and perhaps resigns before they have finished taking their class through Grade Eight. One respondent stated that when their music teacher resigned, a qualified replacement was not found. The position remained unfilled in order to balance the school budget. Class teachers and parent volunteers with some musical experience were trying to carry the music program piecemeal between them. Another school had a handwork teacher with a university degree in vocal performance teaching choir lessons in addition to teaching the handwork program. In the majority of developing schools, class teachers were responsible for most of the music education taking place. Music teachers were hired primarily to conduct orchestral and choral rehearsals. Even though schools relied heavily on class teachers to support the music program, class teachers received little support through professional development or mentoring, either by music teachers or from other sources. The greatest source of professional development for class teachers was through attending a summer session of intensive professional development, designed to help teachers prepare for the upcoming school year.

49 Member Schools: Findings and Observations Foundations for Excellence 49 Of member schools, 15 schools said they had no attrition, eight said they did have attrition, and three schools had no music specialist on staff. It would be expected that attrition would be lower in member schools than in developing schools, as member schools tend to be more established, have larger student populations and more financial resources, and in many cases have larger facilities that accommodate more specialty programs. It is therefore surprising to see that although attrition is less of an issue in member schools, it is still close to 50 percent, and goes over that number if the three schools without music specialists are taken into consideration. Clearly, teacher attrition in the music program is an overall problem in American Waldorf schools. Member schools demonstrated less of a link between strategic planning (or lack thereof) and music teacher attrition than developing schools. This could be for a number of reasons, the fact that music programs are more established in mature schools is one. In member schools, strategic planning may be more focused on long-range financial and physical plant goals instead of program development. It is interesting to note that several respondents did not know if the music program was mentioned in the school's strategic plan. Music teachers coped with limited hours in member schools as well as in developing schools. The largest programs, both in budget and hours, were in schools that are Grades This makes sense, because music classes are part of the high school curriculum. These schools also had the greatest flexibility in which instrument and ensemble choices they offered to students in the middle school.

50 Foundations for Excellence 50 They are the only respondents that participated in interscholastic activities such as choir and band festivals. The teachers in these schools were the most likely to hold professional memberships in organizations such as National Association for Music Education (formerly Music Educators National Conference) and American Choral Directors Association. Based on this set of respondents, one can conclude that the most robust Waldorf music programs are ones in which the vision of the music curriculum is carried in the same school through the high school experience. This may be because the achievement standards in music for graduating students are clear, and the overall music program is structured towards fulfilling these standards. Could the strengths of these programs be transferred to Grade 1-8 schools? Every school that reported no problems with attrition had a music specialist or specialists on staff for more than 15 hours per week in all cases but two, more than 20 hours per week collectively. The lead music teachers in schools with no attrition worked, at minimum, between hours per week. This number of teaching hours seems to be a key factor in schools that are able to retain their music teachers. There was a definite connection between teaching hours and physical resources. Without exception, the schools that had a music teacher or teachers employed collectively for more than 20 hours per week had budgets of over 1000 dollars per year. The music programs had more abundance in the areas of school-owned instruments and music libraries. They also demonstrated a greater overall level of organization in the music program, particularly in the realm of hours allocated for instruction in the lower grades.

51 Foundations for Excellence 51 Class teachers take on various aspects of music instruction with their students in member schools, just as they do in developing ones. Overwhelmingly, class teachers are responsible for recorder instruction and singing with their students. A number of schools list performance preparation, for both festivals and concerts, as a class teacher's duty as well. Several schools with limited programs or no music specialist on staff have class teachers that work, regularly or intermittently, with students in ensembles. Six schools in the study have made class teachers responsible for all aspects of the music program with the exception of strings, which are taught by outside teachers. Almost all member schools have two or more required ensembles in the middle school. The most common ensemble combination is a choice between orchestra and recorder, and required choir. In several cases, students who enroll after Grade Four or Five must participate in recorder ensemble instead of orchestra. Private lessons are required in the majority of schools with orchestra requirements in the middle school. I expected to see a higher percentage of mentoring or professional development being provided to class teachers in member schools than in developing schools. However, the percentages are almost exactly the same. Class teachers get most of their professional development in music through the summer intensive to prepare for the next year of teaching.

52 Foundations for Excellence 52 Conflicting and Confusing Responses In many survey responses, contradictory information was given. The most common example were respondents who said private lessons were not required of students, then stated that a number of students were required to take private lessons. Another conflicting response was that the playing of a string instrument was not required by the school, but middle school string ensembles were required. Many responses said music teachers taught recorder, but also stated class teachers taught recorder. Several respondents said that music specialists were on staff, when in fact, they were not. Instead, class teachers were directing aspects of the music program. Many respondents were unsure as to whether the music program was mentioned in their school strategic plan, they did not know what professional memberships were held by music teachers, and they did not know what the budget of the music program was, nor what it was primarily used for. This presents a picture of communities that do not understand the basic structure of their school music programs, their staffing, resources, or use of resources. They may not grasp the vision or pedagogical focus of the music program, if indeed such a vision or focus exists. In many schools, there is no clear division of responsibilities between class teachers and music teachers. Class teachers must teach their students music with little or no mentoring or professional support.

53 Foundations for Excellence 53 Recommendations All schools wish to offer a high quality of programming, and wish to operate with efficiency and to use resources wisely. In order to meet these goals, there are a number of areas that I feel Waldorf schools could give attention to when assessing their music programs. For music programs to be truly successful, clarity of purpose, a clear understanding and division of roles and responsibilities between music and class teachers, and appropriate professional development must be the rule, not the exception. On the subject of strategic planning, my conclusions are that the more consciousness that exists around a program, the more support it gets from the community. Schools with music specialists on staff can track program effectiveness by means of the strategic plan. Schools with no music specialists on staff can still include the music program in the strategic plan, hopefully with the idea that a music specialist will eventually be hired. I will discuss this subject in greater detail in the next section of this paper. In the area of attrition, schools consistently state that they have had difficulty in finding qualified personnel. The data shows that many music teachers in Waldorf schools hold music performance degrees, rather than music education degrees. Schools that hire music teachers with music performance degrees need to be ready to give these teachers additional support and mentoring if they have not had classroom experience. Even teachers who may have operated their own private studios will still need to learn how to manage group instruction for students of varying abilities. A working knowledge of pedagogical concepts, and how to impart them, cannot be assumed when hiring a music teacher with a music performance degree. Schools may need to adjust their expectations accordingly when working

54 with new or inexperienced music teachers, just as they do with new class teachers. Foundations for Excellence 54 Attrition was also attributed to low hours and wages. I discovered that music programs that hired their lead music teacher for 15 or more hours per week had a much lower rate of attrition than those that hired teachers for less hours. Programs that had more than one music teacher working for less than 10 hours per week could consolidate the multiple, low-hour positions into one 80 percent to full time position. If structured correctly, the music program could be strengthened using existing hours and resources, with the added benefit of reducing teacher attrition. Another way to give the music teacher more hours while providing professional development to the whole faculty would be to allocate perhaps two hours per week for mentoring class teachers during school hours. If two hours a week were provided for mentoring, then potentially every class teacher could have a private mentoring session with the music teacher once a month. This would strengthen the musical skills of the class teacher, and strengthen the overall music program. One must consider the many ways in which the music teacher could move beyond conducting the orchestral or choral rehearsal, share their special training with teachers and students, and become more integrated in the life of the school. The music teacher could be hired to do a half-day session of professional development for the faculty during in-services or faculty work week. Some schools ask their music teachers to open the training day with singing, what is proposed here is different. The music teacher would be giving instruction in various aspects of music education that class teachers would then share with their classes. Although this type of adult education is typically more highly paid than the hourly rate for teaching music classes, it is of tremendous benefit to the community.