The level of 8th-grade students' attainment of essential international music competencies

The aim of this research was to determine the level of 8th-grade students' attainment of essential international music competencies. The survey model was used in this research. The population of the research consisted of 8th-grade students who continued their education in the official secondary schools affiliated with the Ministry of National Education in Ankara and the music teachers working in these schools. The sample of the study was determined using the stratified proportional sampling method. The research was carried out with the participation of 445 students and 8 teachers in the 2nd term of the 2020-2021 academic year. The research was applied by video conferencing method due to the transition to distance education in schools within the scope of COVID-19 pandemic measures. The data of the research were collected by performing a literature review and document analysis, as well as the "Musical Evaluation and Context Test", "Musical Performance and Creativity Test", and a semi-structured interview form, which were prepared by the researcher. Percentage, frequency and arithmetic mean values, t-Test, and Mann-Whitney U test were used in the analysis of quantitative data; content analysis technique was used in the analysis of qualitative data. As a result of the research, it was determined that the international essential music competencies and the music competencies expected to be acquired in the curriculum applied in Turkey were largely similar, but there were differences in the areas of polyphony, essential instrument playing skills, music technology, and evaluation. It was determined that 8th-grade students only reached the criterion of acquiring musical competencies in the item "Pronunciation of the words of the song" included in the "Essential Singing Skills" theme of the "Musical Performance and Creativity Test", and that this criterion could not be reached in any of the other competencies. It was observed that the level of reaching the competencies did not display a significant difference with respect to the lower and upper level schools. In line with the teachers' opinions, it was determined that the existing physical conditions of the music class environments should be improved and that the support given to the music course by the stakeholders should be increased.