The music and life of André Rieu for teacher professional development in a secondary school in South Africa

Abstract

The attributes and characteristics which are elicited during performances of music artists can, by establishing interdisciplinary connections between the arts and education, serve as direction indicators for solutions to challenging situations that teachers encounter in their classrooms. While appreciating the artistry and performance of André Rieu and his orchestra, 32 teachers from a secondary school in Bloemfontein, South Africa, identified six positive themes of his artistry and behaviour that had, according to them, practical relevance and application value to their educational practice and professional development. This appreciative approach to teacher development is presented as an alternative to regular teacher training activities.