An investigation of K-12 string teachers' perceptions of musical outreach and the National String Project Consortium in Detroit, Michigan

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore K-12 string teachers’ perceptions of and experiences with the String Project at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. Surveys were sent via email or USPS to 53 K-12 String Teachers at 77 Public, Private or Charter schools within a 10-mile radius of Wayne State University. Of these teachers, a total of eight responded that their school no longer offered strings or they were incorrectly identified as a string teacher, reducing the actual number of potential participants to 45. Eight surveys were returned for a response rate of 18%. Four of the respondents and the String Project director were then emailed two follow-up questions. One teacher and the String Project director responded. The survey was a researcher designed questionnaire that gathered information regarding classes taught, number of students enrolled in, and opinions of the String Project at Wayne. The findings showed that, within the Detroit area, school string programs are located sporadically and vary widely in terms of numbers and settings. Additionally, less than 1% of students identified are dually enrolled in their school programs and the String Project at Wayne. This points to a lack of communication and collaboration between the String Project and the K-12 schools/teachers as well as between the city and suburbs. This has implications for the continued growth of the String Project at Wayne as well as String Projects beginning in similar cities and other outreach organizations within the Detroit area.