Date Approved
9-17-2013
Embargo Period
3-3-2020
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.A. Music Education
Department
Music
College
College of Performing Arts
Advisor
Dammers, Rick
Subject(s)
Instrumental music--Study and teaching; Rhythm
Disciplines
Music Education
Abstract
The focus of this study was to investigate if including physical movement in instruction improves instrumental music student's rhythmic abilities. Within the rhythmic instruction, the research study specifically focused on student's rhythmic ability and note reading improvements. Participants in this study included instrumental music students in grades four, five, and six, in a middle-class school district (N=18). The control group was given four weeks of traditional rhythm instruction, with a traditional counting method. The experimental group was given rhythm instruction incorporating physical movement over a period of four weeks. Prior to the lessons, both the experimental and control groups were administered a five minute pre-test of basic rhythms, on sight, with an accompanying pulse (music), on one notated pitch. After four weeks of treatment, the subjects concluded the instruction by taking a post test. The score improvement between the movement based instruction and the traditional instruction was evaluated by three judges. There were no significant differences found between the experimental and control groups.
Recommended Citation
Horne-Greene, Jessica, "Effects of physical movement in rhythm instruction in early instrumentalist development" (2013). Theses and Dissertations. 210.
https://rdw.rowan.edu/etd/210
