Robert Gardiner

Dr Robert Gardiner is a professional educator specialising in whole-class music pedagogies and the combination of instrumental and curricular music education. He studied for his Bachelor degree at the RNCM, completed his PGCE at Manchester Metropolitan University and the RNCM, and then his Master of Arts degree at Zurich University of the Arts. He completed his EdD in 2022, exploring student teacher development throughout their Initial Teacher Education year.

He is a highly experienced educational practitioner, designing and implementing diverse music pedagogies in all sectors of primary, secondary and higher education. He also works in staff development, supporing schools to enable teachers to become confident music leaders. Robert has also led and directed numerous youth ensembles and choirs.

Robert is an active researcher with a particular interest in music educaiton, teacher educaiton and educaitonal policy. Recent publications have explored the connections between socio-cultural context and teachers’ identities, values and aspirations. This has focussed on various theoretical conceptulisations of teacher subjectivity and the interplay between discourse, culture, society, ideology and music educaiton.

While working as a full-time educator, Robert has maintained his clarinet playing. Particular interests include contemporary performance practice, multi-generational music making, and chamber music.

• Multi-cultural teachers education
• Transitions and progression in school
• Philosophy, theory and practice of music education

Robert’s current research explores the connections between music education and society. Particular insists include the influence of policy on teachers lives, and in particular the influence of recent English policy changes on new and developing teachers’ confidence and efficacy. This has included specific projects with student teachers, school teachers and pupils, drawing in post-structuralist and socio-constructionist principles to examine cultures, politics and discourses within education.