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NSRMTA Research Group
The NSRMTA Research Group was formed to enable independent music teachers (IMTs) to come together and conduct collaborative action research in areas of concern that affect our teaching practice in the private music studio. Our intent is to focus on IMTs' knowledge and professional practice and change the usual ways in which knowledge is produced in our profession.
The NSRMTA Research Group was originally founded in 2004 by five members of the Halifax and Dartmouth Chapters of the Nova Scotia Registered Music Teachers' Association (NSRMTA). Our first research project was "Motivation and retention of students in the private music studio". Papers related to this research have been presented at the 2009 Canadian Federation of Music Teachers' Associations (CFMTA) bi-annual conference in Sackville, New Brunswick; NSRMTA and PEIRMTA conventions; Canadian Music Educators' Association Pan Canadian Conference, Victoria, B.C; Problems in Music Pedagogy Conference, Daugavpils University, Latvia; Research Commission, Internatioanl Society of Music Education (ISME) in Porto, Portugal and a poster presentation was given at the ISME conference in Bologna, Italy in 2008. A paper was given in 2010 at the Studio Teachers' Forum at the ISME conference in Beijing, China; the ISME North American Regional Seminar and Summit, Anaheim, California and at the University of Ottawa's International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research in Music Pedagogy.
So far, the NSRMTA has formed a research group in Halifax, Nova Scotia and the PEIRMTA have started one in Charlottown, Prince Edward Island. It is hoped that more groups will form in other parts of Canada and the world.
Collabroative action research enables IMTs to develop their own research agenda and affect and participate in decision making outside our private studios, which impacts our teaching. We believe that through this type of research we can address the issue of isolation we experience as teachers in a private music studio and particpate in real choices and decisions that affect our professional practice.
Current members of the group include: Lexie Blackler, Jane Gordon; Shahien Hamza; Grace Luke; Skippy Mardon; Lorna Wanzel.
For information on how to start an independent music teachers' research group in your area please contact Lorna Wanzel at lwanzel@eastlink.ca
Dr. Lorna Wanzel
Founding member NSRMTA Research Group,
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