Middle School Band Students' Attitudes Toward Music Preparation, Assessment, and Technology


Book Description

The purpose of this qualitative study was to advance understanding of middle school band students’ motivation, confidence, and perceived ability in reading music, with an emphasis on sight reading. The research participants consisted of 56 middle school band students that engaged with sight reading software over the course of ten weeks. Participants completed two surveys for the purpose of data collection. Based on an analysis of the survey responses, it was determined that the majority of participants viewed the use of technology in music class favorably. Students revealed that in general, they were motivated to use the software and that it helped alleviate anxiety when using it for assessment.




Instructional Technology, Motivation, Attitudes and Behaviors


Book Description

In middle schools today, teachers meet many challenges. The research question addressed in this dissertation was: What are the effects of instructional technology on motivation, attitudes and behavior of at-risk learners in the middle school general music classroom? The purpose of this study was to determine if the implementation of instructional technology, specifically digital piano keyboards and computers, in the middle school general music program would have a positive effect on the motivation, attitudes and behaviors of at-risk learners. To this end, a study was conducted in which at-risk learners received instruction delivered through a higher concentration of technology. Students completed a pretest and a posttest consisting of the Motivation Achievement Profile, audiation/listening and audiation/reading scales of Level One of the Iowa Tests of Music Literacy and the Middle School Music Attitude Scale. The experimental group received music instruction through a higher concentration of technology while the comparison group participated in an equally desirable music program. Data was analyzed using an analysis of covariance, in which the posttest mean of the experimental group was compared with the posttest mean of the comparison group with the pretest scores used as a covariate. Overall, no statistical significance was found; however, statistical significance was found on 2 of the 22 measures taken. Furthermore, there was a remarkable degree of consistency for the experimental group. Overall, consistency was seen with the experimental group scoring higher on 18 of the 22 measures indicating that perhaps if there had been more students a significant effect might have been seen. Nonetheless, the consistency leads to the conclusion that the treatment had some kind of effect. There is an implication that a positive, although not statistically significant effect on the motivation, attitudes and behaviors of at-risk learners occurred.







Engaging Musical Practices


Book Description

Inspire and involve your adolescent students in active music-making with this second edition of Engaging Musical Practices: A Sourcebook for Middle School General Music. A practical and accessible resource, fourteen chapters lay out pedagogically sound practices for preservice and inservice music teachers. Beginning with adolescent development, authors outline clear, pedagogical steps for the creation of an inclusive curriculum that is age-appropriate age-relevant, and standards-based. You will find timely chapters on singing and playing instruments such as guitar, keyboard, ukulele, drumming and percussion. Other chapters address ways to make music with technology, strategies for students with exceptionalities, and the construction of instruments. Further, there are chapters on songwriting, interdisciplinary creative projects, co-creating musicals, infusing general music into the choral classroom, and standards-based assessment. The book is full of musical examples, sample rubrics, and resource lists. This second edition of Engaging Musical Practices: A Sourcebook for Middle School General Music is a necessity for any practitioner who teaches music to adolescent students or as a text for secondary general music methods courses.










Goals and Self-assessment in the Middle School Learner


Book Description

With the intent of improving the teaching of practice strategies to young musicians, the purpose of this multiple case study was to discover how students use goal setting and self-assessment within their personal practice sessions and how these self-regulative components affect strategy choice and motivation. The specific questions were as follows: (a) What goal setting and self-assessment comments do novice, adolescent instrumental musicians make during instrumental practice? (b) What goal setting and self-assessment strategies do novice, adolescent instrumental musicians use during instrumental practice? (c) Are there differences in practice strategies found among students when they are deliberately involved in goal setting or self-assessment compared to times when they are not setting goals or self-assessment? and (d) What strategies do students use to address various technical aspects of performance? This study entailed the observation of middle school aged instrumental music students (N=6) during their individual practice. Two students were in eighth grade and four were in seventh grade. The students played flute (N=2), clarinet (N=1), saxophone (N=2), and trombone (N=1). Data was collected via field notes, videotape analysis of three practice sessions per student along with concurrent and retrospective verbal reports, focus group interviews before and after the observation cycle commenced and concluded, and an interview with the students' band director. Data were analyzed within cases and across cases for emergent themes. Four themes were found to describe a cyclical practice process in which students moved from motivation, to goal setting, to strategy use, to assessment, and back to motivation. Each stage of the cycle seemed to drive other stages. Students with learning goal orientations seemed to practice more effectively than students with performance or time orientations. Student goals tended to lack specificity, which negatively influenced student choice of practice strategy and self-assessment. Three external factors were found that had a strong influence on the practice cycle, including teachers, musical aural image, and learning development . These three factors wove their way through all four stages of the practice cycle.




The Effect of Differentiated Musical Parts on the On-task Behavior, Classroom Performance Time, and Attitude of Students in an Inclusive Urban Middle School Band Class


Book Description

Abstract: The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of differentiated music on classroom behaviors and attitudes of middle school band members. Special, differentiated music, was written to find out if the level of class participation (students on task) would increase with its use. The differentiated music consisted of three parts from which each player could choose; a simple two note harmony, melody, and an advanced counterpoint. Sixth, seventh, and eighth grade band classes were included in the study. A series of eight class sessions, fifteen minutes in length from each grade, were videotaped over a period of four weeks on successive Tuesdays and Thursdays. Baseline and treatment sessions were established with the baseline consisting of the use of typical band method material, and the treatment including the use of differentiated music. Each grade level ran a different length of baseline and treatment time periods. Data were collected to measure the percent of students on task for baseline and treatment for each grade level. Other areas evaluated included the amount of class time spent playing, teaching, and dealing with discipline and interruptions. Teacher comments were measured, as was survey information from the students regarding their enjoyment levels and self assessment. The use of the differentiated music did not show an increase in the number of students participating as had been expected. Rather the discipline of the students became the prominent issue. Correlations showed that as negative behaviors increased, attitude toward the class and personal achievement decreased. Future research in this area should be done in a setting and through instruction where student attention and relatively good discipline is maintained. If the classroom discipline problem area could be reduced or eliminated, comparison of differentiated music versus other types of materials might yield different results.




Instrumental Music Education


Book Description

Instrumental Music Education: Teaching with the Musical and Practical in Harmony, 2nd Edition is intended for college instrumental music education majors studying to be band and orchestra directors at the elementary, middle school, and high school levels. This textbook presents a research-based look at the topics vital to running a successful instrumental music program, while balancing musical, theoretical, and practical approaches. A central theme is the compelling parallel between language and music, including "sound-to-symbol" pedagogies. Understanding this connection improves the teaching of melody, rhythm, composition, and improvisation. The companion website contains over 120 pedagogy videos for wind, string, and percussion instruments, performed by professional players and teachers, over 50 rehearsal videos, rhythm flashcards, and two additional chapters, "The Rehearsal Toolkit," and "Job Search and Interview." It also includes over 50 tracks of acoustically pure drones and demonstration exercises for use in rehearsals, sectionals and lessons. New to this edition: • Alternative, non-traditional ensembles: How to offer culturally relevant opportunities for more students, including mariachi, African drumming, and steel pans. • More learning and assessment strategies • The science of learning and practicing: How the brain acquires information • The philosophies of Orff and El Sistema, along with the existing ones on Kodály, Suzuki, and Gordon. • The Double Pyramid of Balance: Francis McBeth’s classic system for using good balance to influence tone and pitch. • Updated information about copyright for the digital age Evan Feldman is Conductor of the Wind Ensemble and Associate Professor of Music at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Ari Contzius is the Wind Ensemble Conductor at Washingtonville High School, Washingtonville, NY Mitchell Lutch is Associate Professor of Music and Director of Bands at Central College in Pella, Iowa




The Attitudes and Interests of Adolescent Middle School Youth Regarding Traditional Music Instruction


Book Description

Abstract: The purpose of this research was to discover the attitudes and interests of middle school aged youth regarding traditional music program instruction and to compare the attitudes of band students with non-band students. More specifically, what are students' current musical interests; how are traditional music programs perceived socially, and what factors affect enrollment in school music programs. The subjects were students in sixth, seventh, and eighth grade in a public school district in Huntington Beach, California. Subjects were divided into two groups, band participants and non-participants, and completed separate surveys asking questions about their opinions of their school music program. Generally, non-participants have a slightly negative to very negative opinion of traditional school music programs, but show interest in non-traditional types of music classes like rock band or guitar class. Band participants are more positive toward music but also show an interest in popular instruments and music styles.