Vocal Teaching Research In The Primary School Music Classroom

This paper investigates the current state of musical education in primary and secondary schools since the founding of the new China,and analyzes the existing research on primary school music education and children’s vocal groups.Presently,vocal music teaching in primary schools centres on developing an interest in and an appreciation of music;the emphasis is on music practice,encouraging musical creativity,highlighting the features of music and a comprehensive treatment of the subject.Also,attention is paid to the music of ethnic minorities and musical cultural diversity.Furthermore,teaching is geared towards all students and towards personality development.Through introducing the state of famous children’s singing groups in China and abroad,this dissertation addresses the following questions regarding primary school music classrooms:how can children’s singing techniques be developed despite large class sizes?How can all students be led to take the initiative in participating in music practice?How can each student’s musical potential be maximally developed?The paper also analyses the present situation of primary school vocal music teaching,analysing and proposing solutions for the existing problems,especially the "shouty" singing phenomenon.Based on the actual demands of primary school vocal music classrooms,the concept of singing in primary school classrooms is explored,the relationship between singing and facial expression;how singing and performing complement each other;developing singing and creativity at the same time;using choirs to develop a spirit of cooperation.This dissertation combines the author’s pedagogical training with the result of many year’s research to suggest that attention is paid to breathing in developing proper singing techniques,as well as to practicing soprano singing to develop style;a high posture and a low voice should be used to protect the throat.This argument from both teaching and learning methods has a firm theoretical foundation that is also tested in practice.This paper makes the following suggestions for supplementary teaching methods as concerns vocal music education:the main basis of examinations in vocal education is performance practice;in primary schools,examinations should utilise choir performances.Regarding supplementary teaching methods in vocal music.education,the author suggests the following:set up groups on campus to do extra-curricular singing activities and allow those children gifted in music to stimulate the other children;use the performances of the groups within and outside the school to assess the effectiveness of teaching.Thus it is suggested that group choirs are used to foster students’ ability to work with others.