Music to their ears: The importance of familiarity in learning and incorporating popular music styles into the college teaching of aural skills
Date
2008-08
Authors
Weaver, Anne Caroline
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Abstract
This thesis attends to the necessity of the familiar in learning, researches the styles of music that are most familiar to the average aural skills student at Texas State University-San Marcos, and explores means of incorporating these styles in the collegiate teaching of aural skills.
The first chapter deals with the modem student in the college classroom, the factors influencing musical preference, types of learning, and the role of familiar concepts in learning, and concepts to be grasped in the study of aural skills.
In the second chapter, various aural textbooks are reviewed for familiarity, as well as user-friendliness to the students. This chapter includes data regarding percentage of familiar material versus unfamiliar material.
Results from a 2007 survey of musical preferences are listed in the third chapter. Tables display the ratings for familiarity and preference as they relate to gender, classification, ethnicity, and listening habits.
The fourth chapter presents the author's experiences incorporating popular music into the aural skills classroom, student comments on the use of popular music in the classroom, and assignment ideas.
Description
Keywords
music appreciation, universities, college, aural skills, higher education
Citation
Weaver, A. C. (2008). Music to their ears: The importance of familiarity in learning and incorporating popular music styles into the college teaching of aural skills (Unpublished thesis). Texas State University-San Marcos, San Marcos, Texas.