February 11, 2018

Dear Sir/Madam,

As you may already know, I am a graduate student in the Department of Early and Middle Grades Education at West
Chester University of Pennsylvania, working toward my M.Ed. in Applied Studies in Teaching & Learning. As part
of my Master’s degree program, I will be conducting an inquiry to understand how the Irish generalist music
teachers’ practice can be informed by the American music specialist teacher.

As an expert in the field of music education, I would like your perspective on music education as it applies to your
particular experience. I would be very grateful for your participation as an interviewee. Your responses will be used
to capture insights into how music education provision exists currently in the Irish primary school.

All data that I collect from interviews will be kept confidential and no references to participants’ names will be used
in my work. Pseudonyms (alternative names) will be assigned to participants to protect their identities. During the
research project, data will be kept secure and confidential and at the conclusion of the research, data will be safely
discarded.

Your participation in the inquiry is completely voluntary. You are free to withdraw your consent at any point during
the study and the data will not be recorded or used in my research or M.Ed. work. There is no compensation for
participation and no penalty for non-participation.

The results of this study will be used for an online website that is required in my course, Teachers as Researchers.
The website will be viewed by my classmates and my professor and shared at a university-based research conference
for M.Ed. students. Again, no names of participants will be used in my work.

In the space at the bottom of this letter, please indicate whether or not you consent to participate in the research
project. Please return this completed form to me. If you wish, you may make a copy for your own records.

Please note that during the interview process, I would hope to use audio recording technology to collect your
responses. However, if you do not wish to be audio recorded but still wish to take part in the interview, you may
indicate this below.

If you have any questions about this research project, please feel free to communicate with me using the contact
information below.

Sincerely,

Edmond Gubbins

Email: edmond1206@gmail.com
Telephone: +353860739122

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____ I agree to participate in the research project as an interviewee and am happy to be audio recorded. I
understand that I may withdraw my consent at any time, without penalty.

____ I agree to participate in the research project as an interviewee and do not wish to be audio recorded. I
understand that I may withdraw my consent at any time, without penalty.

____ I would rather not participate in the research project as an interviewee.

Participant Signature and Date: