The effectiveness of real -time visual feedback to improve seventh and eighth grade saxophone and trombone students' intonation accuracy
Abstract
This study investigated the effectiveness of using a computer software program that provided real-time visual feedback on intonation accuracy along with printed musical examples and recorded accompaniments as a way of improving the intonation accuracy of seventh and eighth grade saxophone and trombone students. The visual feedback was in the form of an on-screen tuner with an interface similar to those used in instrumental music education. This was an experimental study using a pretest-posttest design with one experimental and one control group. The independent variable for the study was type of instruction. Students in the experimental group used a researcher-created software program that combined visual feedback and printed musical exercises on a single display while also providing in-tune accompaniments. The control group used a version of the software that provided only the printed musical examples and accompaniments on screen and positive textual feedback encouraging them to continue with the study. The dependent variable was the intonation accuracy of the study participants. A total of seventy-four 7th and 8th grade students participated in the study. Students were randomly assigned to the control and experimental groups such that both groups had roughly equal numbers of 7th and 8th grade students as well as saxophone and trombone students. Data analysis indicated that the difference in intonation accuracy of students in the experimental group compared to the control group was statistically significant and that the improvement in intonation accuracy from the pretest to the posttest for the experimental group was also statistically significant. These results suggest that using a combined approach of real-time feedback with in-tune accompaniments and printed musical exercises is an effective way to help students understand intonation and improve the intonation accuracy of their performance on their instrument. The results were consistent across experience level and instrument used. The results of this study suggest that this type of an approach is effective for teaching 7th and 8th grade alto saxophone and trombone students to play their instruments with better intonation accuracy.
Degree
Ph.D.
Advisors
Lehman, Purdue University.
Subject Area
Music education|Educational technology
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