Abstract:

Interdisciplinary competencies have been determined as vitally crucial for the contemporary life and they play a significant role within our society and life-long learning (Larraz, et al, 2017). Interdisciplinary competencies cover a broad set of knowledge, skills and attitudes that are essential for personal and professional development as well as social interaction. Therefore, the development of interdisciplinary competencies and its assessment is essential in higher education in order for the future teacher of music to gain useful and insightful skills and abilities both personally and professionally. In addition, it is required to meet the professional requirements of the labor market and to perform in the public life. In order to ensure high quality, contemporary and competitive teacher education, one of the aspects of the professionalism criteria of the music teachers is the competence of innovation. It helps the student to improve their ability to plan and lead the students’ learning process and creative performance during music and choir classes. It facilitates to organize one’s own and their choir’s artistic work, to evaluate result, take responsibility and initiative, as well as to find creative solutions in the rapidly changing conditions (description of content and realization of specialization of General Education Music Teacher at Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music, study field Education and Pedagogy).

The aim of the research is to analyze the theory of the structure of interdisciplinary competence of innovation and to determine the sub-competencies related to the profession of a music teacher. Additionally, to conduct a survey for students in order to find out which sub-competencies are facilitated and developed throughout the educational practice, particularly within the subject “Music” and “Work with School’s Choir”. The theoretical analysis proved that there are five sub-competencies that create the innovation competence - creativity, critical thinking, initiative, teamwork and networking. Due to the obtained data, it can be concluded that the student can develop their innovation competence in the pedagogical practice throughout the study process.

Keywords:

Interdisciplinary innovation skills, professionalism of a music teacher, pedagogical practice, school subject Music, school choir.