2018 Theses and Dissertations
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/11274/13276
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Browsing 2018 Theses and Dissertations by Author "Baker, Vicki D."
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Item A comparison of music literacy scores between 6th and 7th grade band and choir students in relationship to practice regimen, private instruction, ensemble membership, and student/teacher ratio(6/20/2018) Burton, Stephanie R; Baker, Vicki D.; Woolery, Danielle; Thomas, PaulThe purpose of the study is to compare the development of music literacy skills between 6th and 7th grade band and choral students and determine what factors lead to higher achievement. Data were collected while surveying 5 middle school choir and band directors and collecting scores from their district’s benchmark test that they administered to their 24 ensembles/classes at the beginning and the end of the Fall semester to measure their students’ musical literacy. Results showed that the five groups with the highest gains in scores were four 6th-grade band classes (bassoon, trumpet, percussion, clarinet) and one 7th-grade band. Among these five groups, 100% were required to practice outside of class hours, 80% had a student/teacher ratio of 13:1 or less, and 60% had students that were either selected or auditioned. Thirty-eight percent of the combined membership of the five groups were enrolled in private lessons.Item An investigation of rhythm reading practices in Texas middle school choirs(1/22/2019) Morgan, Shelby; Baker, Vicki D.The purpose of this study was to investigate rhythm reading instructional practices used in the middle school choral classroom. The study included an assessment of the amount of time spent on rhythm instruction per week, an examination of choral sight reading method books and pedagogical techniques employed, and the rhythm counting system used. A link to a researcher-designed survey was emailed to current Texas middle school choral directors and 129 responded with a response rate of 15%. Questions addressed demographics, teaching experience, musical training, and teaching methodology. Analysis of popular choral methods books showed that most of the available literature support a separation of pitch and rhythm during instruction. Results of the survey indicated that time spent on rhythm instruction and the pedagogical approaches used varied greatly among middle school choral directors. Further, many participants had not received rhythm training in middle school or high school choir. Recommendations for future research include a study of band and orchestra rhythm instructional practices and how they could be adapted for the choral classroom. Additionally, investigation into rhythm pedagogy presented in university choral methods classes could provide possible solutions to raising the level of rhythmic aptitude among middle school and high school choral students.