Participation in musical performances and practical skill development among upgrading music teachers in selected teacher training institutions in Buganda region, Uganda

Abstract

The study is titled; Participation in musical performances and skill development among upgrading teachers in selected Teacher Training Institutions in Buganda Region, Uganda. The purpose of the study was to examine the how participation in musical performances aids skill development among upgrading teachers. The study was qualitative and descriptive using purposive sampling techniques to select teacher educators (02) and teacher trainees (16) as participants. Interview, Focus group discussion and Recording were used. The study was carried out from July, 2023 to April, 2024. The objectives of the study were: To establish how much time is offered for music as a subject, how the time is used and what resources are available to aid the practical music engagements in Teacher Training Institutions, to find out the practical strategies that educators use in guiding practical sessions and to find out how educators and teachers strategize to identify and bridge the gap of challenges between theoretical and practical music learning and teaching. The findings revealed that there was no regular specific time scheduled for practical performances except that given once a year for examination or competition, resources were inadequate, the program was so congested in timetabling thus making it so hard for practical performances to be in these institutions. The study recommends creation of time, availability of required resources and designing a curriculum that caters for more practice than theory.