At first glance, music and research might appear to occupy different worlds. Music brings to mind creative performances, emotional expression, and artistic instinct. Research suggests academic journals, pages of citations, and controlled trials.
This separation is more myth than reality. But still, some music instructors may wonder how research methods could improve teaching something as creative as music. Research can offer music educators practical insights and strategies to enhance their teaching and support students’ musical growth.
Rather than conflicting with music’s creative spirit, good research supports and strengthens it.
“A research mindset helps teachers in all aspects of their job and their lives, from finding credible information to making informed decisions about their teaching practice,” explains Dr. William Bauer, professor and director of the Online Master of Music in Music Education program at the University of Florida.
As the instructor for UF’s “Research in Music Education” course, Dr. Bauer is well-versed in guiding students as they develop this “research mindset,” a practical approach to research discovery, assessment, and use in real classroom situations. In this article, he outlines how research capabilities can strengthen music teaching and learning.
Teachers use the foundations of research in their classrooms all the time, oftentimes without even recognizing it.
When music teachers encounter daily challenges, they might wonder:
These examples of “wonderments,” as Dr. Bauer calls them, are research questions: the starting points for discovering better teaching approaches and improving support for students.
“Data is really just information,” Dr. Bauer points out. “What many teachers don’t realize is that they’re already doing a form of research every day in their classrooms.
“When you wonder why certain students struggle with rhythm or why some practice techniques work better than others, you’re asking research questions,” Dr. Bauer explains. “When you try a new warm-up technique and observe how students respond, or when you experiment with different assessment methods and note which ones improve performance, you’re gathering data and drawing conclusions from it.
“What we’re doing in the online Master of Music in Music Education program is helping to formalize those natural instincts.”
Music is an art form that benefits from inspiration, but it is also a skill set that can be taught and improved. Research helps music educators gain a deeper understanding of both aspects.
“Research provides music teachers with new ideas and approaches that can help their students build stronger musicianship,” says Dr. Bauer.
Just as doctors who stay up to date with medical advances provide the best care, music educators who engage with current research can offer more effective instruction. As Dr. Bauer points out: “You wouldn’t want to go to a doctor who was practicing medicine the same way they did 10, 15, or 20 years ago. Similarly, music educators should base their teaching practices on the latest research on music teaching and learning.”
When teachers understand the science behind effective learning, they can better nurture their students’ artistic development and help them build lasting relationships with music. And when they understand how to review and synthesize research, they can spot useful teaching methods that will work in their classrooms.
According to a Music Matters report, researchers have found that music education positively impacts student learning by strengthening critical thinking skills and increasing interest and engagement in school.
One challenge music teachers face is understanding how to effectively apply studies on music and learning to their specific teaching environments.
For instance, a teacher who leads a 150-student marching band might question how motivation theories would apply to their situation. Or, an orchestra conductor might wonder if there is research on practice techniques that would transfer to middle school beginners.
“In the program, we help graduate students bridge the gap between research and classroom practice,” says Dr. Bauer. Throughout the online master’s curriculum, students engage with current research in music education and explore ways to apply it directly in their own teaching contexts.
Courses in UF’s Master of Music in Music Education program explore research on pedagogical approaches, assessment techniques, technology integration, creative thinking in music, and more. In each instance, students learn to evaluate the study critically, asking:
Is it grounded in the existing literature related to the topic being examined?
This critical approach also helps teachers avoid implementing techniques that aren’t suited to their specific teaching context. Part of conducting research and gathering information is recognizing when it’s not useful.
As Dr. Bauer emphasizes, the crucial question for practical application is always: “So what?” Essentially, music educators need to look beyond statistical significance and consider real-world impact.
Professional music educators should assess whether the measured benefits justify the resources required.
Evaluating your options on a practical level ensures that research informs your teaching decisions rather than dictating them.
Beyond making your teaching better and helping students learn more, research skills give you the ability to locate and present evidence to support requests for what your music program and students need.
“Most administrators and school leaders, especially those who control the finances, are generally more receptive to financial, material, and curricular requests if they include data,” Dr. Bauer explains. “If you have concrete evidence from selected studies or your own classroom, it strengthens the arguments that all teachers, especially music teachers, need to make to advocate for support for their programs.”
For example, if you want to ask school leaders to support a new modern band program, research can help make your case. Instead of saying “I think this would be good,” you can show that researchers have found that 67% of music teachers report Modern Band programs successfully attract students who don’t join band, orchestra, or choir.
Or, if you want to develop an awareness of ways music study has been found to correlate with learning in other classrooms, you could share research showing that structured music education corresponded with math scores that increased by 8.4 points on average for students in over 100 West Virginia schools, and that the majority of teachers observed improved critical thinking among participating students.
School leaders are more likely to say yes when they see numbers backing up your request.
Some of these journals require a subscription, but your institution’s library or local public library may be able to provide access to these resources.
With the University of Florida’s R1 research institution designation, research is “in the DNA of the university,” Dr. Bauer explains.
Music education master’s students complete a Research in Music Education course, where they learn to transform classroom “wonderments” into formal research questions. Research principles can also be found throughout every class in the program. All courses connect their content to current scholarly findings, and faculty show students how to turn academic studies into effective teaching practices.
The UF program’s Graduate Research Award further supports students in sharing their work with the wider music education community through conference presentations and international research opportunities. Recent award recipients have presented research in Kenya, performed in Italy, and participated in major music education conferences throughout the United States.
The University of Florida’s online Master of Music in Music Education program is designed with the evolution of music education in mind.
In addition to covering a broad array of music genres, the graduate program curriculum explores advanced concepts in music education psychology, instructional design, and technology in the music classroom.
The faculty are experienced teachers themselves and include instructors from a diverse range of professional backgrounds — from professional musicians to internationally recognized music education researchers and authors.
To learn more about the University of Florida’s online Master of Music in Music Education and download a free brochure, fill out the fields below. You can also call (352) 662-3395 to speak to an enrollment specialist.
Benefit from the UF’s heritage of academic excellence and complete a 100% online program offered by a NASM- and CAEP-accredited university.
