Integration of On-line Compostion Mentoring into Music Teacher Education

This study determined the feasibility of integrating on-line mentoring of music composition into music teacher education courses. Using Internet and MIDI software, 17 music education majors served as on-line composition mentors to 43 music students in three classes of middle and high school students. A variety of descriptive data was analyzed including writing tests, attitude scales, surveys, interviews, and open-ended narratives. Results showed that integrating on-line mentoring into music education courses is feasible from technical, organizational, and instructional standpoints. Also, results showed that mentors improved significantly in both ability to write constructive feedback and in attitude toward composition and technology.