Date on Master's Thesis/Doctoral Dissertation

5-2014

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Degree Name

M.M. Ed.

Department

Music Education

Committee Chair

Amchin, Robert A.

Committee Co-Chair (if applicable)

Walworth, Darcy

Committee Member

Walworth, Darcy

Committee Member

Shadle, Douglas

Subject

Music--Instruction and study; Music--Psychological aspects; Musical ability in children

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to measure correlations between third grade students’ music aptitude and preferences for music. Students (N = 60) from two elementary schools in Central Kentucky participated in the study. Students took Gordon’s Intermediate Measures of Music Audiation (IMMA) and a researcher-designed test called the Children’s Music Preference Index. Correlations between IMMA scores and music preference were tabulated using a two-tail bivariate correlation computing a Pearson’s product-moment correlation coefficient. No significant correlations were found between IMMA scores and the overall preference for music (r = -.018). There was an apparent weak negative correlation between aptitude and preference for Rock music (r = -.346). The overall preference score was slightly higher for those with exceptionally high and exceptionally low music aptitude than those with average aptitude. Exceptions of this finding include Rock and Pop, which showed a negative relationship, but not correlation, between strong preference as aptitude scores decreased, and Jazz music, which was rated progressively higher as aptitude scores increased. Suggestions for further areas of research are discussed.

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