Stavovi učitelja i studenata glazbe o obilježjima glazbenoobrazovnoga sustava na osnovnoškolskoj razini u Hrvatskoj / Teachers' and Music Majors' Attitudes towards the Features of the Music Education System at the Elementary School Level in Croatia

Abstract

Professional music education in Croatia is realized in primary and secondary music schools and at music academies (European Music School Union Weimer Declaration Music Schools in Europe, 2010). The paper examines the teachers’ and music majors’ attitudes towards the key features of the music education system at the elementary school level. The results confirm the existence of differences in the attitudes of the participants towards the implementation of the entrance exam, but not the optimal age for enrolment in the first grade of the music school. Furthermore, the attitudes of the participants towards the status of Choir, Orchestra and Theory of Music courses, the courses per week of solfeggio and instrument courses, the connection between solfeggio and instrument courses, and the level of acquired students’ competences upon completing primary music school education do not differ with regard to gender, but there are differences with regard to the participants’ professional status. The participants believe that the goal of musical education on the elementary school level is not to direct future professional musicians, but aesthetic education of students. Such a change in the educational paradigm represents a major step towards improving the theory and practice of music pedagogy.