AbstractsEducation Research & Administration

A Philosophy and an Approach to Teaching Non-professional-track Violin Students

by Anna Ewa Bard-Schwarz




Institution: University of North Texas
Department:
Year: 2014
Keywords: Teaching; violin; non-professional track; pedagogy; music education; learning to play the violin
Record ID: 2045384
Full text PDF: http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc500007/


Abstract

The aim of this dissertation is to lay the groundwork for an integrated approach to violin instruction for children who are not being groomed explicitly for professional careers as instrumentalists. The study presents a particular focus on the age of middle school children, in order to showcase a more specialized and definitive result of research without, however, distinguishing between advantages and limitations of different age groups of children who study music and learn to play the violin. My first goal is to craft a sample method of teaching with a premise that not all students studying music must or need to become professional musicians in their future. I promote an approach based on the premise that music has universal value available to all and that any kind of music education encourages the growth, personality development, and imagination of children. My second goal is to explore how music education functions in 21st century western culture. Research is based on teachings and methods established by Suzuki, Kodaly, Jaques-Dalcroze, and Orff, among others.