ERIC Number: EJ1457153
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025-Feb
Pages: 20
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1057-0837
EISSN: EISSN-1945-0079
Available Date: N/A
"We Just Kind of Found Ourselves": A Narrative Study of First-Generation College Students and Belonging in Music Education
Journal of Music Teacher Education, v34 n2 p35-54 2025
As the field of music education explores ways to mitigate barriers for underrepresented populations along the path to becoming a music teacher, the experiences of first-generation college students (FGCSs) in music teacher education programs warrant exploration. The purpose of this narrative study was to explore the lived experiences and perspectives of music educators who were FGCSs. Networks of support and mentoring were key in both the successes and challenges that participants experienced. Belonging was not a given for participants despite shared coursework and requirements with peers. Finding peers with similar backgrounds, accessing supportive relationships with faculty, and perseverance aided participants through college. Recommendations for music teacher educators include building relationships with FGCSs in targeted and strategic ways, starting in students' first year, providing more intensive and proactive communication and advising structures, and building faculty knowledge of campus resources that may benefit FGCSs.
Descriptors: First Generation College Students, Student Attitudes, Music Education, Peer Groups, Teacher Student Relationship, College Faculty, Academic Persistence, Minority Group Students, Music Teachers, Teacher Education Programs, Disproportionate Representation, Social Networks, Social Support Groups, Teacher Educators, Teacher Attitudes, Music Activities, Personal Narratives, Educational Experience
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A