The Effects of Movement Activities on Beginning Instrumental String Students' Perception of Musical Pulse and Rhythm

Abstract

My primary purpose for this study was to investigate whether a variety of whole body activities and improvisational movement such as those traditionally used in the general music classroom could be used in the instrumental classroom to assist in internalizing basic musical concepts of steady pulse and rhythm. In addition to seeing improvement in many students' musical responses such tasks provided a window for me to observe and identify other underlying issues that caused difficulty in synchronization and rhythmic performance for some children. This may be the most important discovery of the study; one that will open the way toward more effective individualized instruction for students who will benefit from additional help in rhythmic performance.