For this experiment, 34 participants were given three different types of music with rigorous musical terms. They had two minutes to study each piece of music, one minute to sit silently to see how to count/ read the music. The first test was a control, and no help from me was offered to help them with any problem that they had. The dependent variable was the group who was given a chance to ask questions but not as much maybe like 4 questions. The independent variable was the group who had help with me.
All 34 participants were middle school 8th grade band students aged 11 to 15, currently attending the Northwest Jackson Middle School (an International Baccalaureate School MYP). It was an honor for me to work with the students and director of bands during my allocated time.
Introduction
Research Question
Does the type of music band student’s play affect their academic grades?
Students' study habits affect their success in school. They often study for examinations while listening to music or remembering a piece that she or he played in the band to help them remember an answer to a question to a test of something to help them pass a test and also in an attempt to relax and improve their concentration. However, listening to music while studying may create distractions that may impair with the child’s memorization. Investigating the
To see if playing/listening/remembering a band piece with musical elements in it may give insight to see if that help students perform better in the classroom. Memory is one of the processes closely studied by the cognitive perspective of psychology.
Review of Literature
Ask about
Hypothesis
Method
Design
I used an experimental method in which all students could relate to. I arranged music that was based upon their level (middle school reading) then I added musical terms that they should have learn and will learn in their higher education pursue. The dependent variable was the students who makes all A’s and they performed the piece and were asked questions about the piece and musical terms without my help from the beginning and the independent variable was the group of students who make average grades such as B’s and C’s; they received help from me. In order to comply with ethical standards, the participants were given student/parent consent forms, and after issued out it was read aloud to them and discussed.
Participants
The 34 participants ranged in age from 11 to 15 years old. All were students in the Middle School 8th grade Band. There were 9 girls and 25 boys. The Band Director was asked in advance if he would allow the testing without making my assignment apart of their grades, and consent was obtained from the students and their guardians. The participants were given to me by the school counselor after telling them about my project. I then put the students into different groups after finding out their academic grades through the counselor.
Materials
- Paper (Music Arranged by me)
- Musical Terms (see Appendix ii)
Procedure
- I first introduced myself and had an interview process with Band director / Counselor/ Principal.
- I then went the next day and talked to the class (tried to see what they knew and tried to come up with ways to help better them academically and musically) P.S. All groups are in different rooms. Passed out Consent forms and explained in dept.
- Next day picked up consent forms (surprisingly everyone turned theirs in). Later on I taught the independent variable how to play the songs correctly and answered any questions that they had. P.S. The Dependent/Control Variables don’t have a copy of the songs yet.
- I went to the Dependent Variable and gave them the piece and found out what they knew; and answered only 5 questions.
- I went to the control group and gave them the piece and told them to work on it by themselves.
- Then I told them to all to come to the band hall and to listen up for their testing schedule and the control group and the dependent group went first in the different room. Later on I discussed with them their scores and where they messed up at and the same for the independent group.
- After the testing was over I put them all together and they played the songs together as a band and work with them on the sight-reading and counting of the music. Then I asked individual to define certain words that I thought that they should know or will learn.
Results
Results were as followed for: Able to Read Music and Define Musical Terminology
