Effectiveness of the Teaching Program Prepared to Improve Intonation Skills in Violin Education

Abstract

In this study, the effect of the curriculum prepared for the elimination of posture-grip disorders in students and the development of the right-and left-hand skills on the intonation skills of students was examined. For this purpose, the curriculum prepared by targeting the 1 and 2 grade levels of the Music Teaching Undergraduate Program was applied to 6 students studying at Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University Music Education Department in the 2018–2019 academic year. In the study, the explanatory sequential mixed method was used, a single group pretest–posttest experimental design was applied in the quantitative dimension, and a structured interview technique was used in the qualitative dimension. Thirteen weeks worth of the prepared curriculum was applied to the experimental group, one hour per week. The effectiveness of the programme was examined based on three tasks: intonation accuracy in the first position, intonation accuracy according to the speed variable, and intonation accuracy in I–III position–transition playback. The studies and exercises determined for this purpose were performed by the students in the studio environment before and after the application, and the intonation errors in the files recorded in the computer environment were converted into numerical data with the Melodyn Studio 4.0 package program. To calculate the level of significance between the pretest–posttest results, 8772 notes records were analysed, and the Wilcoxon Marked Rows test was applied using the SPSS program. The descriptive analysis method was used in the analysis of qualitative data. According to the analysis, significant improvement was detected in the intonations of the students in all three tasks. It was seen that the qualitative student opinions supported these results, and the students stated that there was an improvement in their intonation and violin playing skills after the application. As a result, it can be said that regular technical exercises by eliminating posture-holding disorders and improving violin playing skills are effective in the development of intonation in the violin.