Investigation of the effectiveness of piano education onsocial development in children need of protection aged 6-12 years

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of piano education on social skill levels, assertiveness levels, as well as emotional and behavioral problems of children aged between 6-12 years who are under protection in children's houses. A total of 12 children (who were/are) under protection participated in to the study. The participants were grouped as experimental group (N=6) And Control Group(N=6). „Matson Social Skill Scale‟, „Assertiveness Scale‟ And „Strengths and Diffilculties Questionnaire‟ were administered to all participants. Both the experimental and the control groups were asked to complete the same scales before starting the 12-week education programme and again at the end of the 12-week(said) programme. The subjects in the experimental group practised piano with the researcher during the 12 weeks. The musical programme was constituted by the researcher. The control group didn‟t receive any tutoring. The same questionnaires were administered end of programme for post- test results. The Statistical Package of the Social Sciences Program (IBM SPSS 21) was used for statistical processings. Means, standard deviations, Mann Whitney-U test and Wilcoxon paired samples test were used to analyze the results. The experimental group showed a significant increase in social skill assertiveness skill level and a significant decrease in attention deficit and hyperactivity, peer problems and emotional problems and total emotional and behavioral problems at the end of 12 weeks. There were no significant changes observed in the control group. (p<.05) This controlled trial indicated that a 12 week music instrument practice with children under protection increased their social skill levels and decreased emotional and behavioral problems. These results are compatible with literature. This study suggests that increasing the amount of musical and other art practises with disadvantaged children could support their well-being and reduce their emotional behavioral problems. Further researche is needed to evaluate long-term results. Keywords: Music education, Social skill, Assertiveness, Emotional problems