Dichotomy of High Piano Student Enrolment Compared to Low Retention of Proficient Pianists of Wakiso and Kampala Districts in Uganda

Mubiru, Michael Efraim (2014) Dichotomy of High Piano Student Enrolment Compared to Low Retention of Proficient Pianists of Wakiso and Kampala Districts in Uganda. Masters thesis, Kenyatta University.

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Abstract

The study examined piano performance in Uganda, with specific reference to enrolment and retention of proficient pianists. The report makes the submission that regardless of the high student enrolment in various music schools and centres today, only a small number of proficient pianists manage to stay in the field of performance as professional pianists who depend on their performance for careers. The study established why such an insignificant number of Ugandan pianists venture into the world of piano scholarship and performance, The study was guided by the following objectives: to establish factors influencing the students' training in piano; to ascertain factors that influence students either to continue or not to continue as practicing pianists and to establish hindrances which students encounter during training that prevent them from getting prepared for the demands of the job market. The study followed the "Constructivism" of learning theory by Glasersfeld (2012) that deals with the way people create meaning of the world through a series of individual constructs. The study estimated a target population of 139 respondents (music students and teachers). Nevertheless, it considered 65 informants after realizing that not all music students pursue piano as their main instrument. A non-probabilistic sampling technique was applied to purposively select a sample size of 44 respondents for the study. This included 11 piano instructors (teachers) and 33 piano students (current and dropout students). The data was collected using questionnaires (open and close ended), interviews (face to face) and focus group discussions. Subsequently, the gathered data was analysed using the qualitative approach to data analysis where the findings were presented using codes, tables, figures and charts where applicable. The data was analyzed using the descriptive statistics where figures and percentages were employed. The study established that the students' learning process was challenged by various factors such as lack of enough time for piano lessons and practices, the gaps in the syllabi and inadequacy of facilities for piano lessons. In addition, the study realized that teachers had not concretely engaged parents and school authorities into the teaching process which affected the instruction and learning process by creating vacuum in the training procedure. As a way of enhancing the training procedure of pianists and their retention into the field of performance, the study was to avail different insights to piano students, teachers and policy makers. The study made the following recommendations; there is a need to revisit the NCDC syllabus, the government through the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) should make a policy that instructs school authorities to provide equal time and treatment for music as other subjects and there is need for only qualified piano teachers to handle piano teaching for proper skill development.

Item Type: Thesis (Masters)
Subjects: M Music and Books on Music > M Music
Divisions: Africana
Depositing User: Tim Khabala
Date Deposited: 12 Sep 2017 11:46
Last Modified: 12 Sep 2017 11:46
URI: http://thesisbank.jhia.ac.ke/id/eprint/2049

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