Improving Sight-Singing Performance in the Choral Ensemble: The Effect of Individual Testing

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of individual testing, in conjunction with group instruction, on students' sight-singing skills. A quasi-experimental study was designed to test the following prediction: Choir students given a regular program of individual testing will show a significantly greater improvement in individual sight-singing over students given group sight-singing instruction alone. A sample of 306 subjects was drawn from the beginning and advanced choirs of six high schools in the State of Washington where sight-singing was taught. Intact choirs were randomly assigned in a pretest-posttest control group design to examine the effect of a señes of three individual tests administered to the experimental group throughout one semester. Results showed a significantly greater gain in individual sight-singing performance on the major melody for members of the experimental group. Members of the advanced choirs scored significantly higher on the major melody across conditions. There were no significant differences in either variable for the minor melody. There was a significant school-to-school difference in individual achievement for both melodies, but no interaction with the treatment. Individual testing was found to be an effective means of improving individual sight-singing performance in group instructional situations.