The slow process of modernising teacher training in music in New South Wales, 1920-1956

The need for appropriately trained teachers to teach in its schools has been a priority for the Department of Education (hereafter referred to as the Department) since the beginning of public education in New South Wales in the 1850s. This paper presents an overview of the provisions made by the Department for the musical development of its primary teachers at both the pre-service and professional development stages of their teaching careers during the middle decades of the twentieth century. Teacher training in the second half of the nineteenth century culminated in education reforms in 1904, which set the scene for twentieth century teacher training in New South Wales. Gradual changes in teacher training and teacher professional development in music between 1920 and 1956 provided the basis of the contemporary teacher-training regime in New South Wales. Three main themes were important in this historical development: the mandatory music experiences provided to trainee teachers at Sydney Teachers' College; music in the teacher classification examination system; and Departmental professional development opportunities in music.