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Swedish preschool leadership – supportive of music or not?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 December 2014

Anna Ehrlin
Anna Ehrlin*
Affiliation:
Division of Education, Mälardalen University, Box 325, SE-631 05 Eskilstuna, Swedenanna.ehrlin@mdh.se
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Abstract

This study uses observations and interviews to investigate how the leadership at three Swedish preschools in Sweden has impacted the didactic choices made. Two of these preschools use music as a tool for stimulating language and social development, while the third preschool serves as a comparison. The inspiration that the leadership has brought to each institution is of crucial importance to incorporating music and other activities into the everyday work. This influence has been both restrictive and supportive. Music is said to function as a teaching tool, while other functions remain in the background. This contradiction and its implications are discussed, and it is argued that further training should include developing the teachers’ musical-didactic awareness. Principals are most certainly role models at preschools and need to be aware of it.

Type
Research Article
Information
British Journal of Music Education , Volume 32 , Issue 2 , July 2015 , pp. 163 - 175
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Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2014 

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