ABSTRACT

This objective of this study consists in inquiring into the possibility to test Korean music aptitude by means of Edwin E. Gordon`s music aptitude test that is widely used in the West as a tool to test music aptitude. For that purpose randomly sampled out from Arts High School located in seoul, (majoring in Korean music and Western music) were third grade students (n=271) to test their music aptitude using Gordon`s standardized music aptitude test (AMMA), and on them tests were conducted. In as much as tests were conducted on the subjects of the two schools, it is was difficult to carry out them at the same date and at the same time. Tests were executed for the Korean music majors on June 26, and for the Western music majors on July 15. The results of AMMAs were scored manually by the students themselves. Utilized for the test work was `Statview,` a statistic program for the Macintosh computer. The main objectives and method of this study include : 1) Investigating the possibility of whether to test Korean music aptitude by means of Gordon`s Western music aptitude test by comparing it with the results of the practical test, performing ability test. 2) Examining the correlations between the aptitude test and fundamental musicality by comparatively studying the subject group`s aptitude test results and sound hearing test results. 3) Comparing their aptitude test results of the subject group with those of American students, a control group. 4) And diagnosing how students` music backgrounds affect Western music aptitude levels. The resultant findings are as follows : 1) It was found as inappropriate to carry out a Korean music aptitude test by a Western music aptitude test. 2) As tests were conduced on two different groups, it was difficult for them to be carried out at the same date and same time. Therefore, Korean music majors were tested on June 26, while Western music majors on July 15. The results of advanced music aptitude tests were scored by manual work, and `Statview,` a Macintosh computer statistic program, was utilized for varied tests. 3) As a result of having compared the subject group`s aptitude test with those of the control group, Korean students` aptitude test results showed higher values than those of American students. 4) As a result of having diagnosed how students` music backgrounds affect Western music aptitude levels, it seems that students` full musical experience, the term of major in music, by extracurricular music teaming, etc. have a substantial influence upon their test results. When seen from the subject group`s musical background perspective, those Korean students who major in Korean music have more varied musical experience and have received more major lessons, as compared with those who major in Western music. Furthermore, the number of respondents who think that their musical temperament has been advanced and the number of respondents who think that the level of this test is difficult, were found to be significantly high. Those students who major in Western music have a longer period of time in learning of instrumental playing and receive more lessons of music theories or sound hearing by extracurricular work, as compared with those who major in Korean music. In the aggregate, despite that the subject group was found to be excellent, as compared with the control group, most of them recognize that their musical temperament is ordinary.