ABSTRACT
This study aims to determine the problems and needs that have been experienced by the music teachers in teaching music. Describing the needs for upgrading the quality of instruction in Music, this study focuses on the qualification of teachers in teaching music, the schools in carrying out the music development plan, and the problems that have been encountered by Music teachers in teaching the subject. In this context, the quality of instruction is defined as the strong quality teaching. It pertains to the needs of the subject areas, learning competencies, and most especially the needs of the learners that should be met and resolved.
Based on the review of the literature on quality of instruction, it explained that quality of instruction was the set of all meaningful preparations made by the teachers before entering the classroom. Tool kits of knowledge, a bunch of skills and proper attitude, instructional materials and learning resources are some of the preparations involved in order to have an effective learning process. One of the factors to be considered as an efficient quality instruction is to have a safe and friendly learning environment, conducive, and can support the pupils’ ability for learning.
In this study, the researcher utilized mixed methods research design to quantify and describe the quality of data collected. To investigate the problems and needs that the music teachers enountered in music instruction, thirteen (13) Grade 6 Music teachers, ten (10) school principals, and three (3) head teachers were used as the informants of the study. They were selected purposively based on the objective of the study in order to gather relevant data. The researcher used a self-made survey questionnaire and interview guide questions in determining the need for upgrading the quality of instruction in Music 6.
The result of the study which was based on the frequency and percentage distributions indicated that there are needs and problems that were being experienced by Grade 6 Music teachers in the teaching and learning process. The analysis of the responses demonstrated that these needs have a great impact on pupils’ performance in Music 6. On this basis, recommendations of the participants of the study were presented in this research that are based on the summary of findings and conclusions.
Brief Introduction
For the past years, the Philippines became widely prominent in the field of music. In fact, the country is well-known worldwide and recognized as “Asia’s Music Capital” because of its contribution to the music industry.
Though Philippine music industry has progressed and became prominent nowadays, there were problems and needs being encountered in the place where music is formally learned by individuals, the school. The teacher who is said to be the one who created all other professions such as engineers, businessman, doctors, politicians, musicians, singers, actors and actresses, has also encountered problems and needs in the school and classroom setting in the field of music.
All over the world, music teachers experience problems in music instruction. They found difficulties in teaching the fundamentals of music because of so many reasons such as lack of knowledge in the use of methods of teaching, insufficient learning materials, budget needed to improve the facilities for music class and insufficient ideas in the approaches and strategies in music instruction.
Altun (2015), stated that teachers who were gifted in music, either trained or not, specialist or non-specialist were responsible to deliver the fundamentals of music education in primary levels even without the assistance from music specialist.
Glauser (2017), affirmed in one of his articles the different challenges the music teacher of today faces. It was explained that many institutions over the country, curriculum makers and implementers, teachers and even parents considered music education an option rather than necessity. Decision makers believe that only those individuals who performed an extra-mile in music should continue music education. Generally, music education may become a choice for students who showed interest rather than a major subject that all students are required to study and learn.
Hightower (2011), discussed the issues related to quality of instruction and its impact on student’s achievement in a report published by Editorial Projects in Education, Inc. entitled, “Improving Student learning by Supporting Quality Teaching: Key Issues, Effective Strategies”. The report also emphasized the effects of qualifications of educators on pupils’ learning in terms of academic degrees, certification, coursework, teachers preparation programs and teacher test scores. Some studies also showed that the following qualifications had a positive impact on pupils’ achievement.
The Enhanced Basic Education Curriculum known as the K to 12 Curriculum envisions its ultimate goal that Music in this program will effectively nurture and enhance every Filipino learner’s artistic expressions and cultural literacy, celebrate his/her national heritage while it instils, the pride in his/her own cultural identity.
The main concern of this study is to identify problems experienced by the music teachers that may serve as basis for the enhancement of their instruction in teaching music.
The instruments used by the researcher to gather information about the study were sample questionnaire and interview guide questions. The sample questionnaire helped the researcher to easily determine the total number of respondents who answer a certain question. This also provides accurate data that served as basis in making conclusions and recommendations. Interview guide questions supported and prove the data which were collected in sample questionnaire.
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