Date

11-13-2025

Department

School of Music

Degree

Doctor of Music Education (DME)

Chair

Rebecka Rose

Keywords

music education, music teacher burnout, comparative analysis

Disciplines

Music

Abstract

This historical comparative analysis assessed five different sources to understand the effect stress and burnout have had on public school music educators over the last fifty years. In the United States, music educators are facing stress and burnout in their teaching careers, which can result in attrition from their profession. In this research study, four studies pertaining to music educator burnout are analyzed through a narrative compilation of research already established. Also analyzed is a supplementary recent article providing contemporary relevance. The criteria for source selection included studies or articles that primarily researched stress and burnout among K-12 public school music educators in the United States, within a fifty-year span. Sources of both historical and current dates were sought out to support the historical analysis function of this research study. This research examined the history of music educator burnout, the similarities and differences in the reasons for stress, historical trends within the data, and the rationale for the music educator shortage. The findings of this historical comparative analysis suggest that symptoms of music educator burnout, including feelings of career overwork, lack of control in music programs, insufficient salary, lack of school community support, and an absence of fairness in job responsibilities and treatment, when compared to non-music teachers, are often primary causes of music educator stress. Additionally, adequate support from administration can help lessen music educator career stress, contributing to increased job satisfaction, decreased workplace stress, and a lower chance of burnout.

Download

Included in

Music Commons

Share

COinS