Celebrating musical diversity: Training culturally responsive music educators in multiracial Singapore

This article explores outcomes of research into the role and place of cultural diversity in primary music classes at five government schools in Singapore. The study highlights the ways in which a variety of factors such as specialist music training, government policy, curriculum documents, and professional development influence teacher practice. In particular, the data presented provides insights into the level of support pre-service teachers receive in order to develop programmes based on cultural diversity, and to allow such programmes to flourish and remain successful. There is strong evidence that a foundation has been laid and a commitment made to providing Singaporean pre-service teachers with a comprehensive experience based on the exploration of diverse musics, particularly in the Asian context. This is apparent in the types of musics presented in primary music classrooms and resulting learning outcomes.