Career choice among string music education students in American colleges and universities

The objective of this study was to identify teacher strategies for attracti ng school orchestra students to string teaching,. Full-time string music ed ucation professors at 17 universities surveyed their music education studen ts who were principally string players. Students were asked to describe the ir background, reasons for choosing teaching, and recommendations of approa ches for teachers to use to interest students in string teaching. Results o f the 153 completed surveys revealed that the majority of string music educ ation students are female undergraduates who previously participated in sch ool orchestras. Students chose string education because they liked teaching , music, children, playing their instrument, and being a role model for chi ldren. To attract others to teaching, respondents suggested that teachers b e teaching role models for their students by showing their love for music a nd teaching, relating positively to students, giving special teaching oppor tunities and support to students interested in teaching, discussing the rew ards of string teaching, and challenging students musically.