ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study is to provide various instructional strategies to develop listening skills in general music classes and to suggest the disirable musical activities designed for listening the instrumental music written in the following musical forms : minuet, rondo, theme and variations, sonata allegro form, and fuga. This study also provides the listening activities which are designed to arouse the kinesthetic, the sensuous, the emotional-dramatic, and the celebral responses, thus increasing musical awareness. These activities encourge the student react the music more sensitively and foster more active involvement in listening. Related literature were reviewed to examine the philosophical foundations and the educational considerations in relation to the teaching of music appreciation in general music classes. The teaching approaches introduced in this study are as follows : 1. teaching approach based on programmed instruction which is organized into sequentially structured activities, employing audio materials with sections of the music recorded according to the teaching points 2. teaching approach using various checklist froms to help the student increase an awareness of and responsiveness to the elements of music 3. teaching approach employing computer music and the digital piano to apply its technological and educational advantagies into the listening procedures, allowing the various kinds of listening experience The following educational aspects were examined : 1. the basic aim of listening experiences and the role of music appreciation in the musical growth of the student 2. the basic natures of listening and the characteristics of musical responsiveness which is so vital in the development of listening stalls 3. the educational considerations for the effective teaching of music appreciation 4. the teaching materials to be included in listening lessons to provide broad musical experience and to foster comprehensive musicianship Listening as an end in itself constitutes the highest form of musical experience. Listening is an omnipresent phase of all musical activities : singing, playing instruments, creating music, and improvising. Music appreciation must not be a thing apart from any other musical activities. The basic aim of listening experiences is to make the listener aware of the beauty and enjoyment he can experience through listening to music. Therefore, music listening should be focused on the development of an aesthetic sensitivity. The expressive elements in music should be brought to the attention of the student in order to discover the aesthetic quality and meanings inherent in music.