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The role and responsibility of a secondary school choral conductor
Author
Tan, Amy Neng Hui
Supervisor
Chia, Wei Khuan
Abstract
Research findings and music education scholars suggest that beginning high school choirs function as a vital component of successful sequential choral programming by maintaining the continuum of music education experiences between the middle school or junior high school and high school programme. However, limited research studies have focused on what makes a beginning high school or secondary school choir successful. Findings have shown that there was a high percentage of Singapore schools with choirs and some schools without choirs showed interest in starting one but did not know how to, owing to the fact that the students were mainly of limited musical experience.
The purpose of the study was primarily to investigate the role and responsibility of a secondary school choral conductor working in schools with pupils of limited musical knowledge and experience, looking specifically into three key areas. The three key areas were demographics of the choral conductor, professional understandings and personal qualities of the choral conductor, pertaining to leadership and motivation skills. The aim of this study is to
1. provide knowledge and insight into how singing can be enhanced and improved in our Singapore secondary schools.
2. to assist beginning conductors in starting a secondary school choir
3. to assist current conductors facing similar problems as those reviewed in the literature findings to better cope with their problem areas faced while conducting secondary school choirs
As this study involved an investigation of characteristics, mainly concerned with discovering and describing current practices and activities, a qualitative descriptive research method in the form of a case study was selected as the appropriate method, using the interview and observations as the two main research tools.
The observations were conducted over four weeks. Interviews with the teacher-in-charge, five randomly selected students, as well as the choral conductor were also conducted and documented. The findings revealed that success to a choral programme depend very much on the role and responsibility of the choral conductor, where motivation and strong leadership, together with a balance of knowledge, skill and personality will create an impact in the choral learning journey of these young adolescences.
The purpose of the study was primarily to investigate the role and responsibility of a secondary school choral conductor working in schools with pupils of limited musical knowledge and experience, looking specifically into three key areas. The three key areas were demographics of the choral conductor, professional understandings and personal qualities of the choral conductor, pertaining to leadership and motivation skills. The aim of this study is to
1. provide knowledge and insight into how singing can be enhanced and improved in our Singapore secondary schools.
2. to assist beginning conductors in starting a secondary school choir
3. to assist current conductors facing similar problems as those reviewed in the literature findings to better cope with their problem areas faced while conducting secondary school choirs
As this study involved an investigation of characteristics, mainly concerned with discovering and describing current practices and activities, a qualitative descriptive research method in the form of a case study was selected as the appropriate method, using the interview and observations as the two main research tools.
The observations were conducted over four weeks. Interviews with the teacher-in-charge, five randomly selected students, as well as the choral conductor were also conducted and documented. The findings revealed that success to a choral programme depend very much on the role and responsibility of the choral conductor, where motivation and strong leadership, together with a balance of knowledge, skill and personality will create an impact in the choral learning journey of these young adolescences.
Date Issued
2005
Call Number
MT88 Tan
Date Submitted
2005