My Professional Doctorate focused on student music teachers' perceptions of the place of creativity in their musical identity as musicians and pedagogues. I am also currently participating in a Welsh Government research project which focuses on developing an evidence-informed teaching profession in Wales.
Memberships
- Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)
Research Interests
- Music education
- Informal learning
- Creativity in education
- Curriculum for Wales
Peer-refereed Journals:
Kneen, J., Breeze, T., Thayer, E., John, V. & Davies-Barnes, S. (2021) Pioneer teachers: How far can individual teachers achieve agency within curriculum development? Journal of Educational Change https://doi.org/10.1007/s10833-021-09441-3
Kneen, J., Breeze, T., Davies-Barnes, S., John, V. and Thayer, E. (2020) 'Curriculum integration: the challenges for primary and secondary schools in developing a new curriculum in the expressive arts', The Curriculum Journal, 31 (2), pp. 258 – 275.
Siân E. Evans, Gary Beauchamp & Vivienne John (2015) Learners' experience and perceptions of informal learning in Key Stage 3 music: a collective case study, exploring the implementation of Musical Futures in three secondary schools in Wales, Music Education Research, 17:1, 1-16.
Other Publications
JOHN, V. and EVANS, S. (2013) 'Musical Futures Wales Pilot 2011-12: Main Findings' [Online]. Available at:
http://www.musicalfutures.org
JOHN, V. and EVANS, S. (2013) 'Musical Futures Wales Pilot 2011-12: Summary of Main Findings' [Online]. Available at:
http://www.musicalfutures.org
I am the Learning and Teaching Lead for the Cardiff Partnership for Initial Teacher Education and, with my steering group, I am responsible for both the university and school-based provision for student teachers who train within the Cardiff Partnership. Previous roles at Cardiff Met have included PGCE Secondary Programme Director, SEWCTET Partnership Quality Manager and Programme Leader for PGCE and BA Secondary Music.
Having gained a B.Mus and PGCE from the University of London, I taught music for sixteen years in a range of secondary schools in England and Wales, and was Head of Department at St. Joseph’s R.C. High School in Newport. Between 2004 and 2006, I lead the education work at Wales Millennium Centre, creating a wide and diverse education programme for schools and colleges.
I joined Cardiff School of Education and Social Policy in 2006 as Senior Lecturer in Music Education and completed an MA (Ed) at the university in 2011 and a Professional Doctorate (EdD) in 2020. I have been an A Level examiner for WJEC and an Associate of Musical Futures, responsible for leading the highly successful 2011-12 Welsh pilot and subsequent roll-out across Wales. I am a keen and active orchestral and solo performer and I regularly play flute with a range of ensembles around South Wales.
