Learning Ornament Signs through Transcriptions of Malaysian Folk Songs in an Applied Music Course

Abstract

The goal of this study was to investigate intermediate-level viola students’ achievements in learning ornament signs using transcriptions of Malaysian folk songs and accompanied exercises for the intermediate viola level. Six Malay, two Chinese and one Indian-Tamil folk songs with incorporated acciaccatura, mordent, trill, glissando, and tremolo Western ornament signs were transcribed and utilised in an Applied Music course as an equivalent supplement to the international educational repertoire. Twelve viola students from the Applied Music course at the Faculty of Music and Performing Arts of the Sultan Idris Education University participated in the study over the course of one semester. The quantitative research method employed the ADDIE model for data collection. The results obtained from the observations during individual lessons and questionnaires indicated that students preferred to learn ornament signs after an audio-visual demonstration. No significant difference was revealed in the students’ learning achievements regarding ornament signs except for challenges in sight-reading transcriptions. By learning folk songs, students will develop playing and expressive skills faster. Thus, learning ornament signs through the embellishment of folk songs will strengthen students’ skills in reading and executing the ornament signs and help students improve their expressive sense while performing.