The Relationship of Selected Observational Variables to the Teaching of Singing

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate some observational variables that might contribute to the effective teaching of singing in the elementary general music classroom. The specific problems were (1) the development of an instrument that would satisfactorily describe activities and interaction patterns related to the teaching of singing in the elementary general music classroom, and (2) the investigation of those activities and interaction patterns that related significantly to selected criterion variables defined as a measure of specific teaching of singing. Results indicated the observational instrument included a usable number of variables which were established as consistent and stable. The variables observed on a stable basis were also established as concurrently valid. The effective teaching of singing was related to specific teaching patterns observed in some of the classrooms. These patterns were found to occur in classes in which a larger proportion of students had private musical instruction, the teacher had taught for a longer period of time, and the teacher participated in choral activities outside school.