Keyboard tuition for adult beginners : investigating Practical Piano Study 171 at the University of Stellenbosch

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT:In 1999, two certificate courses were introduced at the Department of Music of theUniversity of Stellenbosch, namely the BMus Foundation Programme (preparatory) andthe Introductory Programme in Music. The BMus Foundation Programme aims to reachstudents who intend doing the BMus Programme but do not meet the required standardfor the BMus Programme at the time of enrolment. On the successful completion of theBMus Foundation Programme, these students can then be promoted to the BMusProgramme. The Introductory Programme in Music concentrates on students who havehad little or no prior formal theoretical or practical training in music. These students aimto obtain, an understanding of the fundamentals off'music within the minimum period ofone academic year.The Introductory Programme in Music is dual-functional:Students can terminate their studies on completion of the courseor11 Students who wish to continue their studies in music can enrol for theBMus Foundation Programme on completion of the IntroductoryProgramme in Music.The Introductory Programme in Music. consists of the following modules: Music Skills171, Choir Singing 179 and Practical Music Studies: Preparatory 17l. The PracticalMusic Studies: Preparatory 171 module concentrates on teaching students the basicpractical skills required to play an instrument. The student decides which instrumenthe/she wants to study. This thesis focuses on piano and electronic keyboard instruction for Practical Music Studies: Preparatory 171. The course will be referred to as PracticalPiano Study 171 throughout the thesis. At the completion of the Introductory Programmein Music, students need to have reached a Grade 3-4 (UNISA) level for Practical PianoStudy 171.In this thesis, the present syllabus implemented for Practical Piano Study 171, is criticallyinvestigated. This investigation includes the following: the forms of tuition offered, thatis, group and individual tuition, the curriculum material that is used and the curriculumitself Furthermore, the psychological, physiological and mental make-up of the studentenrolling for this course in general will be discussed. In this instance, the umbrella termadult is used. Attention is also given to teaching aids that can assist in piano andelectronic keyboard instruction. A demonstration video is included with the thesis inorder to illustrate its potential as a teaching aid. Suggestions based on the conclusionsdrawn from this research are given for the improvement of Practical Piano Study 171.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University