Date Approved

2-24-1998

Embargo Period

8-12-2016

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

M.A. in Subject Matter Teaching: Music

Department

Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math Education

College

College of Education

Advisor

Levinowitz, Lili

Subject(s)

First grade (Education); Music--Instruction and study--Juvenile

Disciplines

Elementary Education and Teaching

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a correlation between developmental age and scores achieved on music ability tests.

The problem of this study was to determine the relationships among the Primary Measure of Music Audiation and the Singing Voice Development Measure and the Gesell School Readiness Test.

Sixty-three students in grade one of the Indian Mills Elementary school took part in this study. All of these students had been tested with the Gesell School Readiness Test prior to entering first grade. This test consisted of eight subtests requiring such tasks as cube stacking, verbal interview with the child, pencil/paper skills in which the child was asked to write his/her name and numbers and copy shapes, drawing and naming the parts of a man, visual discrimination of shapes and drawing a pattern of the same, and naming animals and personal interests. This was used as a screening device for readiness for first grade. Children who performed in the younger range were recommended for transitional first or for an extra year in kindergarten.

In October, 1997, the students were administered the tonal section of the Primary Measure of Music Audiation. This paper/pencil task evaluated the audiation ability of each child in retaining tonal patterns.

Next, all students were audio taped singing Bow-Wow-Wow. Two independent judges then evaluated each child's performance using the five-point rating scale of the Singing Voice Development Measure.

In addition, each child's chronological age was computed in months and measured against the three other data sources. Finally, these data were correlated through the use of a Pearson product moment.

The researcher did establish a relationship between the developmental age of the child and the use of his/her singing voice.

Share

COinS