The status of undergraduate secondary piano instruction in selected departments of music education in Turkey with recommendations for teaching functional piano skills in groups.

Abstract

The outcome of the study revealed significant information on the existent secondary piano programs in the selected Turkish departments of music education. The data collected about the current status of the secondary piano instruction aided in developing the recommended group piano curriculum for all music teacher training institutions in Turkey. To design the comprehensive group piano curriculum, the secondary piano program requirements and the currently used piano curricula in Turkish departments of music education were also consulted. American group piano programs were used as models. The recommended group piano curriculum was developed for four semesters to teach functional skills to beginning level secondary piano students at Turkish departments of music education. The curriculum included sight-reading, transposition, improvisation, harmonization, ensemble playing, accompanying as well as solo repertoire and technical skills that are essential for music teaching. Since both Turkish music and Western music systems are essential in the training of music teachers in Turkey, elements from both were presented in the recommended group piano curriculum.

This study was primarily concerned with the improvement of piano training of prospective music teachers in the secondary piano programs of departments of music education at Turkish universities. The purpose of the study was (1) to determine the current status of undergraduate secondary piano programs in departments of music education at Turkish universities, and (2) to develop a comprehensive group piano curriculum for four semesters to teach functional piano skills to secondary piano students in such institutions.

The research was conducted by means of a survey sent to all piano instructors at eight departments of music education in Turkey. These schools were at the Colleges of Education of Ataturk University in Erzurum, Dokuz Eylul University in Izmir, Gazi University in Ankara, Inonu University in Malatya, Karadeniz Technical University in Trabzon, Marmara University in Istanbul, Selcuk University in Konya, and Uludag University in Bursa. The questionnaire sought to obtain accurate and detailed information about the status of undergraduate secondary piano instruction at each institution. The questionnaire consisted of four sections: the profile of piano instructor, piano instruction for secondary piano students, course content of the secondary piano programs, and the teaching of performance and functional piano skills. The results of the survey were based on thirty-eight piano faculty members' responses (81%) from seven (88%) institutions.