Enhancing the Intercultural Competence Development of Prospective Music Teacher Education: A Case Study in Indonesia

Abstract

Music teacher education institutions in Indonesia are challenged to address their students’ intercultural needs due to increasing interaction at the global level. Therefore, this research seeks to discover suitable formulation for teacher education institutions in Indonesia in implementing music teacher education and training to equip them with intercultural competence. This research employs case study design, in which the data were obtained using interview conducted in July and August 2020. This aims at obtaining concepts based on the need analysis of intercultural competence through processes, actions and interactions from the participants’ perspective. The participants were students of Music Teacher Education Department of Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia. The findings show that 1) the sensitivity to cultural diversity of music teacher candidates needs to be enhanced to expand the awareness of their own and other cultures; and 2) enhancing intercultural competence requires both theoretical and practical courses related to Indonesian identity and global culture. The findings are significant considering that every music teacher should have the same perception in teaching, which is in accordance with the diversity of Indonesian and world cultures.