The use of polyphony in trumpet playing: developing creativity in Chinese trumpet students engaged in improvisations

Abstract

ABSTRACT The present research analyses the growing popularity of the trumpet musical instrument in modern Chinese music. The research purpose is to examine the use of the technique of polyphony in trumpet players and its impact on the creative development of trumpet students. The sample consisted of 496 Chinese trumpeters who participated in brass band festivals. The creative abilities of students were assessed using the following psychodiagnostic methods: Readiness for self-development test, Imagination test, Test questionnaire by Davis to measure creativity; Creative Thinking Test developed by Torrance and Bruner method to assess the types of thinking and creativity. The results showed a statistically valid and significant performance improvement creativity and creative abilities of the studied students of the experimental group, who performed polyphonic pieces of music for a month, as well as increased motivation for further self-knowledge and self-development. The research found an increase in the trumpeters who had a high level of creative potential (from 20.6% to 34.8%). Quantity trumpeters with low creativity decreased from 14.6% to 6.5%. The research concluded that the lessons of polyphonic music contributes to the development of creative abilities among trumpet players.