Enabling Music Students’ Well-Being through Regular Zoom Cohort Chats During the Covid-19 Crises

Abstract

The required shift to online music teaching due to COVID-19 resulted in Teacher Education music students needing different approaches for well-being supported through innovative uses of technology for community, collaboration and connection. Using Samaras’ five elements of self-study, two music education instructors in an Australian conservatoire explored the results of regular, weekly live-stream cohort chats (i.e., Wednesday Zoom Café) when facing an unprecedented crisis. Based on the findings, the innovative use of a Zoom café can result when technology is used to: support music student well-being; support organizational design, facilitate clarity of communication; and, create connection,..