2018 Volume 47 Issue 2 Pages 25-36
The purpose of this study is to reveal the teaching methods employed by music teachers for building relationships at a school site where children with various roots coexist. In line with this purpose, interview surveys were conducted with nine music teachers who worked for public elementary schools in the Murcia Region of Spain, in which cultural diversity has been increasing. It was found from the interviews with such teachers that they were aware of a variety of types of friction among the children, including the manifestation of feelings of competition and the behaviors of isolated children. For resolving such challenges, the music teachers had been making efforts in class plans and the choice of teaching materials so that children with different roots were able to become accustomed to intermingling and cooperating with each other. In addition, the teachers provided an opportunity for the students to change their way to perceive other students and build self-confidence. This paper introduces the considerations and efforts made by the music teachers in Spain, who have been engaging in activities to contribute to the reduction of psychological distance among the children while facing the challenges attributable to multiculturalization of schools.
