The Teaching Approach of a Notable African-American Music Teacher: An Intrinsic Case Study

This intrinsic case study examined the teaching philosophy and practice of Victoria Miller, a notable African-American music educator in Detroit. Utilizing the theoretical frameworks of social constructivism and Black feminism, I sought to answer the following research questions: (a) How does the teacher describe her teaching? (b) How do her students describe her teaching? and (c) How does her cultural background as an African American woman teacher influence her teaching? Data collected for this study consisted of field notes, teacher interviews, student interviews, and artifacts. Analysis of the data yielded four dominant themes: (a) Religious influence on teaching practice, (b) an ethic of caring, (c) identity as an “othermother,” and (d) use of music as a vehicle for empowering students.