A model describing the effects of equipment, instruction and director and student attributes on wind-band intonation
by Wuttke, Brian C., Ph.D., UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI, 2011, 207 pages; 3456375

Abstract:

The purpose of this study was to test a hypothesized model of wind-band intonation, using equipment, instruction and director and student attributes as components. Band directors (N = 5) and their students (N = 200) were given a combination of published and researcher designed tests to measure equipment quality, experience, knowledge of instrument pitch tendencies and aural discrimination skills. In addition, each band was video recorded to observe their warm-up, tuning and rehearsal procedures and activities. Spectrum analysis using Praat phonetic analysis software (Boersma & Weenik, 2010) was used to measure wind-band intonation. Structural equation modeling (SEM) using AMOS (Arbuckle, 2008) was the method chosen to analyze and interpret the data. Although the hypothesized model could not be estimated, a model generating approach resulted in a three-factor model describing the effects of instruction and student attributes on wind-band intonation. Model fit was good (χ2 = 3.486, df = 7, p = .837, GFI = .994, CFI = 1.00, RMSEA = .000). The respecified model indicated that instruction and student attributes explain 99.3% of the variance in the dependent variable wind-band intonation. For each SD increase in the latent instruction variable, wind-band intonation increases by .95 a SD. Activities involving aural-based tuning strategies, tuning intervals and chords evidenced higher intonation scores. For each SD increase in the latent student attributes variable, wind-band intonation increases by .16 a SD. This suggests that instrument quality, experience in band and private lessons, and aural acuity combine to affect intonation scores, but these student attributes are less influential than instruction. A supplementary finding revealed that 72.5% of the students (n = 145) made at least one error (M = 4.05, SD = 3.76) on the test measuring knowledge of their instrument’s pitch tendencies.

 
AdviserStephen F. Zdzinski
SchoolUNIVERSITY OF MIAMI
SourceDAI/A 72-08, p. , Jun 2011
Source TypeDissertation
SubjectsMusic; Educational evaluation; Music education; Acoustics
Publication Number3456375
Adobe PDF Access the complete dissertation:
 

» Find an electronic copy at your library.
  Use the link below to access a full citation record of this graduate work:
  http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl%3furl_ver=Z39.88-2004%26res_dat=xri:pqdiss%26rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation%26rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:3456375
  If your library subscribes to the ProQuest Dissertations & Theses (PQDT) database, you may be entitled to a free electronic version of this graduate work. If not, you will have the option to purchase one, and access a 24 page preview for free (if available).

About ProQuest Dissertations & Theses
With over 2.3 million records, the ProQuest Dissertations & Theses (PQDT) database is the most comprehensive collection of dissertations and theses in the world. It is the database of record for graduate research.

The database includes citations of graduate works ranging from the first U.S. dissertation, accepted in 1861, to those accepted as recently as last semester. Of the 2.3 million graduate works included in the database, ProQuest offers more than 1.9 million in full text formats. Of those, over 860,000 are available in PDF format. More than 60,000 dissertations and theses are added to the database each year.

If you have questions, please feel free to visit the ProQuest Web site - http://www.proquest.com - or call ProQuest Hotline Customer Support at 1-800-521-3042.