"The animation supported piano teaching method" for children aged 7-9

The aim of this research is determined what is the influence of the students' piano success and performance by using "Animation Supported Piano Teaching" method is used in ten course planned on "legato-staccato" subject. The first point that makes research unique is draw attention to that children of technology age can learn better and can join to lessons interestedly by using computerized teaching method. The second is being the first piano method example is created systematically, methodically and animated stories are used, even though animations are done for piano and music in the whole world. The third is ensuring that children are involved in artistic activities thanks to animations is only about music and made in Turkey. The forth is making students aware of the pirivilege of making and interested music thanks to watching magical power of animated characters. The research was carried out in two stages as quantitative and qualitative. In quantitative stage, to determine which method is effective on students' piano success and piano performances, the control group ,who is educated by using Traditional Piano Teaching method, and the experimental group, who is educated by using Animation Supported Piano Teaching method, are compared by using "pretest posttest experimental design with control group" which is from semi-experimental desings. Groups were identified as experimental and control with maching design that is not including non-arbitrary assignment. Data collection tools are those: "piano success test" that is for mesuring mental learning and the confidence coefficient of the test is determined as 0,96 with pilot study. The other data collection tools are rubric measuring instrument and control list constitute piano performances tests. These tests are used for mesuring psychomotor skills. the datas obtained from these tests are analyzed by SPSS 18 program. In qualitative stage, sudents' opinions were obtained by using "semi-structed interview form" Datas are analyzed according to Dey's "qualitative analysis" technic. This technic includes description, classification and correlation steps. The research has been realized in Karsiyaka Municipal Conservatory piano classes in Izmir province. 36 students who don't know to read note and are between the age of 7-9 constitue the population of the study. Students are divided into two groups as experiment group of 18 students and control group of 18 students. Separation of groups as control and experiment is determined by the random method. Students are taken piano lessons in five weeks (two hours a week). Lessons are in the experimental phase controlled by specialists. Then, these specielits' views and students's opinions were compared. Thus, validity and reliability of student opinions were checked. And also, in data collecting and analyzing processes, to increase the valididty and reliability of the research, all the interviews were recorded and transcribed into text afterwards. In experimental phase, in comparison of Animation Supported Piano Teaching method with Traditional Piano Teaching method, according to the findings were obtained from between the experiment group students who were subject to Animation Supported Piano Teaching method and the control group students who were subject to Traditional Piano Teaching method and repeated measurements, significant difference has been found in favor of the experiment group related with piano successes and piano performances. According to interview results, using animations, computer games, piano teaching book, colorful finger gloves and play dough are thought to be entertaining, striking, instructive, persistence enhancer, facilitating learning and reviving in the mind, by students. In conclusion, students like using these materials in piano lessons. According to these results, it can be said that for students who live in the age of technology, handmade materials, such as rice-filled bottles, percussions from yoghurt pots, are not sufficient to teach piano playing and using these handmade materials are not funny, because they are used to play computer and watch animations (cartoons). As a result, students' interests and continuities in piano lessons can be increased by using animation supported piano teaching method's materials.