An investigation of the rhythm aptitude and rhythm achievement of first, second, and third grade students
Date
2010
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Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of an audiation-based curriculum on rhythmic music aptitude and rhythm achievement of elementary school students. Specific research questions addressed in this study were (a) Is there a relationship between developmental rhythm music aptitude and rhythm achievement of first, second, and third grade students? (b) Does the relationship between rhythm music aptitude and rhythm achievement change with age? and, (c) Does age have an effect on rhythm achievement? Participants in this study (N = 183) were in grades one through three, from 10 intact homerooms. Students attended a general music class once a week for 45 minutes. The study lasted for five months. All participants engaged in 5 to 10 minutes of formal rhythm pattern instruction, which alternated between duple and triple meter patterns, each week. Improvisation activities were included in the lessons. At the end of the study, all participants took an oral improvisation test in duple and triple meters. Two independent judges scored each improvisation using a 5-point continuous rating scale. All participants also took a paper and pencil meter-labeling test. Gordon’s Primary Measures of Music Audiation (PMMA) (PMMA, 1986) was administered as a posttest. The results of this study revealed that there was no relationship between rhythm music aptitude and rhythm achievement. Age had an effect on achievement for aural identification of triple meter. The inclusion of audiation-based techniques, such as rhythm pattern instruction, may improve students’ rhythmic music achievement.