A CASE STUDY OF ONE TRAUMA-INFORMED MUSIC EDUCATION PROGRAM

Abstract

Trauma-informed music education is an emerging research area receiving increased attention among music educators, music teacher educators, and researchers. The purpose of this qualitative single case study was to examine one middle school trauma-informed music program. Located in a large urban city of the Northeast region in the United States, Wish Middle School (pseudonym) is an independent Title I school. An educational provider, partner, and resource center for the local community, the school’s philosophy centers on trauma-informed education for all students with the mission to serve any middle school-aged student who resides within the school’s neighborhood. Data were collected over four months during the 2021-2022 academic school year. Data sources included interviews with current students, teachers, and administrators, classroom observations, and artifacts. Many of the findings from student-, teacher-, and administrator-participant data, align with existing music education research in student-center learning, social-emotional learning, teacher-student relationships, and caring learning environments. To add to extant literature, this study’s findings inform a more complete definition of trauma-informed music education, one focused on how music teachers and students interact and co-exist in a music classroom within a trauma-informed school. Music education that is trauma-informed at Wish Middle School requires both students and the music teacher to work together, informing, and responding to each other. I propose a working definition of trauma-informed music education in this study that includes (a) music teachers who develop an affirmative and proactive perspective on student growth through individualized instruction and foster a positive student-teacher relationship; (b) classroom experiences that balance students’ self-selected activities and activities that pose encouraging and empowering challenges to students; and (c) curriculum design emphasizing students’ preferences and incorporating opportunities for students to connect with each other in a safe learning environment. More research specifically on trauma-informed music education programs is needed to continue addressing the needs of students and teachers. Future research will benefit all music education stakeholders by developing evidence-based studies to better understand and further define a trauma-informed music education framework.