Journal Article

Teachers' Practices and Beliefs Regarding Teaching Tuning in Elementary and Middle School Group String Classes

Hopkins, Michael T.

2013

Overview

The purpose of this study was to examine teachers' practices and beliefs related to the teaching of stringed instrument tuning in elementary and middle school group classes. The aspects examined included the following: (a) teachers' beliefs about teaching tuning in their string classes, (b) activities teachers used when teaching tuning in string classes, (c) methods for assessing students' tuning skills, (d) the grade level that tuning instruction begins, (e) the amount of instructional time used for teaching tuning, (f) teachers' goals for students' tuning independence, and (g) teacher, program, or school characteristics that affect how and when tuning is taught. Participants (N = 139) reported that the average time required to develop tuning independence is 4.5 years. The amount of instructional time available and the level of students' aural skills were the greatest perceived obstacles to developing tuning independence. Significant differences were found in tuning activities, beliefs about students' tuning abilities, and assessment procedures and were based on participants' age, teaching experience, and grade levels taught. The findings indicate a need for further development of tuning pedagogy and greater use of formal assessment to determine if students have developed the prerequisite skills for tuning.

• Publisher: SAGE Publications,National Association for Music Education
• Subject: Age Differences / Auditory Perception / Aural Learning / Belief & doubt / Beliefs / Construct Validity / Educational research / Elementary education / Elementary school students / Elementary Schools / Evaluation Methods / Feedback (Response) / Goal Orientation / Grade levels / Independence / Institutional Characteristics / Middle Schools / Music Education / Music Teachers / Music Techniques / Musical Instruments / Public Schools / Questionnaires / Skill Development / Sound pitch / String instrument tunings / String instruments / String music / String orchestras / Student Evaluation / Teacher attitudes / Teachers / Teaching / Teaching Experience / Teaching Methods / Time / Time Factors (Learning) / Time on Task