Effect of the Teaching Piano Sight Reading Program Developed in Accordance with the Systematic Learning on the Sight Reading Skills of the Music Teacher Candidates

AbstractThe aim of this research is to test the effectiveness of the teaching piano sight reading program developed in accordance with the systematic learning on music teacher candidates’ sight reading skills at the piano. Teaching piano sight reading program which is based on systematic learning is prepared for this research. This program comprises ten units to be applied in ten weeks. The experimental method has been used for this research. Participants (N=12) in this research are third-year and fourth-year college students in piano performance majors during the 2010-2011 calendar year at the Department of Music education at Marmara University. The experimental method is modeled on the Pre-Test-Post-Test Control Group Design; students are assigned to two categories: the experimental group (n=6) and the control group (n=6). Groups are randomly divided into two categories with equivalent skill levels. The developed program which was prepared for this research is applied to the students in the experimental group whereas students in the control group keep following the regular curriculum. Moreover, pretests and posttests are applied to both groups. During the assessment process Observation Form was used as the research tool. As a result, students in the experimental group demonstrated considerable improvement in term of sight reading skills at the piano. In sum, it showed that the program, which is prepared for this research, outstandingly enhances music teacher candidates’ sight reading skills at the piano towards to the piano lesson compared to the music teacher candidates who are educated with traditional methods