Date of Award

1999

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Music

First Advisor

James L. Byo

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of three approaches to training preservice instrumental music teachers (N = 22) for initial teaching experiences involving beginning instrumentalists ( N = 22). The three approaches---one involving intensive self-evaluation activities, a second focusing on observation of experienced instrumental music teachers, and a third evidencing a performance orientation---were administered as a four-week treatment phase in an undergraduate brass techniques course. Primarily, this study was designed to answer the question: Did instructional approach differentially affect teacher behavior across two private lessons? Teacher (subject) and pupil behaviors were documented and categorized according to various aspects of subject/pupil activity, subject verbalizations, successful/unsuccessful performance trials, and subjects' secondary instrument (trumpet or trombone) performance competency. In addition, subject and pupil post-treatment attitudes were assessed. Following the treatment phase, subjects taught two lessons to beginning band pupils. Forty-four lessons (totaling more than 1,000 minutes and averaging roughly 24 minutes) were videotaped and analyzed. Certain lesson activities were timed using the behavioral observation computer application, SCRIBE. Results indicated that the self-evaluation group engaged their pupils in performance activity 44.76% of the time, which was significantly more than the teacher observation and performance orientation groups. Using verbatim transcripts of lessons, subject verbalizations were labeled as academic information, direction-giving, information-gathering, or off-task remarks. Pupil responses were categorized as successful, unsuccessful, or no response. Overall subjects used academic verbalizations, three times more than they used direction verbalizations. When pupil responses were preceded by subject verbalizations that were, subject matter rich, pupils were more likely to respond successfully than when verbalizations were subject matter neutral, as in direction-giving (p < .0001). There were no treatment group differences with regard to subject verbalization and pupil responses. Subjects' ability to perform on the secondary instruments studied during treatment was determined by three independent judges. Results indicated no significant differences among treatment groups or between major instruments (brass and non-brass). Further, regardless of treatment, subjects' attitudes toward treatment were overwhelmingly positive.

ISBN

9780599252363

Pages

202

DOI

10.31390/gradschool_disstheses.6893

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