Teacher‘s View on the Development of Values in Music Education in Estonia

The increasing importance of values education is reflected in national, preschool, basic school and upper secondary school curricula. The purpose of the study was to find out about teachers’ view on music education as a means for developing values. The study relied on qualitative content analysis – a semi-structured group interview. Research results proved that music teachers identify themselves as developers of students’ values and consider music and music education an important source of values education. In the development of values teachers outlined the role of music in supporting students’ socio-cultural identity, values-based selection of repertoire (songs, musical-rhythmic activities, music creation), the effect of music making on emotional education and the development of general human values, social skills and creativity.