Technological Remedy for Music Practical Lessons Amidst Covid-19 Restrictions in the Department of Music Education, University of Education Winneba

Abstract

The Department of Music Education, University of Education Winneba (UEW), trains students to acquire the skill of playing some Western instruments such as the keyboard, guitar, winds and orchestral strings. Furthermore, students also receive training in playing Ghanaian traditional instruments such as the atenteben and the various traditional drums of the existing ensembles. This practical teaching also include singing, dancing and ensemble making to allow all students perform their instruments in an ensemble. Unexpectedly, training in these instruments and ensembles was despaired by measures to contain the spread of Covid-19 pandemic. While theory courses in music were conducted via platforms such as Moodle, Google Classroom, the University’s Virtual Class (VClass) and Zoom, the exploratory case study design was used to seek technological means to conduct practical lessons which almost came to a halt as a result of its face-to-face teaching nature. Reviewing literature on technologies for teaching and Covid-19, the study which was based on Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (T-PACK) model unearthed means to conduct practical lessons. Lecturers, instructors, technicians and students of the Department were interviewed to organize their opinions on how to conduct practical lessons amidst Covid-19 restrictions. The study divulged innovative technological means to situate software programmes and applications such as Zoom, Google Classroom, Moodle, Microsoft Meet, Team Viewer, WhatsApp and Facebook for practical lessons.