The investigation of relationship between harmony education and piano playing skills

In this thesis, the relationship between harmony education and piano playingskills of the students of Musical Education Programmes of The Departments of FineArts at Education Faculties have been investigated. Their concern, participation,subjects which they have difficulties and suggestions for overcoming them have alsobeen studied.Data have been collected by applying questionnaries to the lecturers of bothharmony and piano courses and also to students taking these courses. Furthermore,the relationship between their success in these courses and individual sosyoeconomicalproperties of the students at the faculties has been studied. The resultsobtained has clearly shown that the subjects of harmony lectures are very affectiveon the piano playing skills. The better the subjects of harmony lectures have beenlearned, the higher the scores of piano courses have been taken. The fact thatharmony courses must be given throughout the university education, in other wordsfor four years, has been suggested by both lecturers and students. When thetheoretical knowledge learned at the harmony course is applied at piano, the courseof harmony is positively affected and subjects are understood better. It has also beenfound that there is significant relationship between the levels of succes of bothharmony and piano courses and students? interest for these courses. In order toprovide a meaningful learning of the theoretical knowledge of harmony courses anduse them in more consciously way, practical works have to be carried out.It has been stated that the musical pieces played at piano courses can beunderstood better, and interpreted more meaningfully as well by using the knowledgelearned at the harmony courses. Thereby it accelarates the perception of pieces andimproves the earing skills (recognizing and earing the musical sounds better)and alsothe reading skills of musical notes.