Abstracts Philosophy, Religion, and Theology

An intervallic approach to teaching music reading through singing in the seventh grade general music class

by David Edwin Dalsass

The purpose of this thesis is to develop an ap??proach to teaching music reading through the study of melodic intervals. This approach is designed for use in the seventh grade General Music class. The thesis begins with a definition of music read??ing, and a description of various types of musical nota??tion.The value of the notational form in teaching music reading is also discussed. A brief review of different methods and philosophies used in teaching music reading follows.This background is used as a basis for the selection of activities and procedures suggested in this thesis. The major portion of this work presents the organi??zation of materials and procedures for use in an inter??vallic approach to teaching music reading. This approach utilizes three main activities: music reading through song singing, rhythmic responses, and music writing. These activities form the major part of a twelve – week program of instruction.The songs in this program were chosen from recently adopted state textbooks.These songs were analyzed according to the frequency of their melodic intervals. Those songs containing suit?? able examples of intervals to be studied were arranged in sequence from minor second through the perfect octave and then compiled in tables. The approach to music reading as outlined in this thesis should provide the necessary knowledge and skills needed to read and sing melodies intervallically.