The researchers were looking to see how music education impacts learning and what music was being taught. They surveyed 112 first year teachers. It was conducted in 2011.
Teaching young children in the lower primary is easier because the students like music and use it in their playtime. The songs are also shorter and easier to sing.
Older students are not as excited when they hear a song or the teacher starts playing a guitar in front of class. Many teachers and other adults are also not confident in their singing voices.
"And then there’s just something about playing, something that takes you to another place, to experience something that is special, really special, and I want the children I teach to experience music like I experienced it. Obviously I’m not going to teach them an orchestral instrument, but singing and dancing and doing body percussion, I think this can take children to that place." page 8 "But this year I’ve found that music is incredibly therapeutic for two boys in my class who have some challenging behavioural issues. I just find that when they go off I can use music to bring them down. Just letting them sit back and listen to music to calm down has been incredibly useful." page 14
Teaching is not occurring in every primary classroom, even schools that do not have a music teacher. Principals are telling teachers not to teach any music within the classroom if there is a music teacher in the school. Low confidence levels lead to not teaching music in the classroom.
I am going to be a first year teacher in a couple of years. When I have a classroom of my own I am going to try my best to add music into our everyday activities.
Citation: http://www.ijea.org/v12n2/v12n2.pdf The First Year of Teaching in Primary School:Where is the Place of Music?