Date of Graduation
Summer 2025
Degree
Master of Music
Department
Music
Committee Chair
Daniel Hellman
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to design and implement a unit of instruction based upon three common approaches to teaching rhythm in the beginning band setting and to examine their effect on the rhythmic understanding, confidence, and independence of students in my sixth grade beginning band class. Students received instruction that was traditionally-based, aurally-based, and movement-based for one week each, respectively. An analysis of my teaching was provided by the notes I took that detailed what my students and I did throughout the study. Through my instruction, my students were able to increase their interactions with rhythm. Students were able to count using traditional methods, developed aural awareness and audiation skills using aural methods, and created and performed body percussion movements for rhythmic passages. In my observations, I saw that while engagement was high, students experienced various levels of success with the traditional-based strategies. Students enjoyed the almost immediate success they experienced with aural strategies, after an initial hesitation to participate fully. I observed that students were more off-task during the movement-based portion of the study. Based on these results, I offer implications for my future teaching. Meaningful instruction follows a sequence. The sequence suggested in this study follows Bruner’s sequence of building knowledge beginning with enactive experiences, moving to iconic experiences, and culminating with symbolic experiences. Students should gain physical experiences in rhythm, such as through the use of movement or aural strategies, before they are asked to read or notate it.
Keywords
rhythm, rhythmic understanding, rhythmic confidence, rhythmic independence, beginning band, perception, attitudes, traditional, aural, movement
Subject Categories
Music Education
Copyright
© Caroline Williams
Recommended Citation
Williams, Caroline, "Building Rhythmic Independence in Beginning Band Students" (2025). Graduate Theses/Dissertations. 4090.
https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/4090
