Date of Graduation

Summer 2026

Degree

Master of Music

Department

Music

Committee Chair

Daniel Hellman

Abstract

Multisensory teaching is an instructional approach that is increasingly implemented in general education classrooms. Although it has been widely studied in special education settings and in the teaching of reading skills, it has not been extensively examined within music education. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of multisensory instruction on student engagement, comprehension, and retention of concepts in my elementary music classroom. Through Kodály-inspired lessons that challenged students to audiate pitches while kinesthetically building a pentatonic scale, notate music on textured surfaces, and play games that incorporated simultaneous sensory input, these lessons intentionally integrated visual, auditory, tactile, and kinesthetic modalities to see if students demonstrated greater success in music learning. Data were collected through structured observations, journal entries, and student surveys. Results indicated increased student engagement and enjoyment, as well as improved comprehension in certain lessons, while retention and focus varied depending on the activity and level of stimulation. These findings suggest that multisensory instruction can be an effective tool in music education when implemented intentionally and aligned with learning objectives.

Keywords

multisensory, multisensory teaching, Kodaly-inspired classroom, music classroom, student engagement, student success

Subject Categories

Curriculum and Instruction | Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research | Educational Methods | Elementary Education | Music Education

Copyright

© Chelsea Taylor

Download

Open Access

Share

COinS