Examination of western music, Turkish classical music and Turkish folk music theory and practice courses in fine arts high schools according to teacher opinions

Vocational music education is given in the music departments within the universities and in the fine arts high schools affiliated to the Ministry of National Education. The acquisition of knowledge, skills and behavior of talented students selected for fine arts high schools are also provided in these schools. The courses "Theory and Practice of Western Music" (TPWM), "Theory and Practice of Turkish Classical Music" (TPTCM), and "Theory and Practice of Turkish Folk Music" (TPTFM), which are included in the program of fine arts high schools, are of great importance in this sense. This research was carried out in order to examine the theory and practice of western music, Turkish classical music, and Turkish folk music courses in fine arts high schools. In this study, a mixed-method was applied to reveal the problems of teachers in TPWM, TPTCM, and TPTFM courses given in western weighted fine arts high schools and the applicability status of these courses. The triangulation design was used in the research since the multiple method should be used and as it is necessary to place the comparisons on a valid and reliable basis. In this direction, the mixed method was used during the design process of the research. For the quantitative extent of the study group in the research, a questionnaire was applied to 92 teachers who teach mainly western music, working in 91 fine arts high schools in Turkey, and giving any of the TPWM, TPTCM, and TPTFM courses. For the qualitative extend of the research, survey questions were directed to 10 teachers working in 91 fine arts high schools in Turkey, who teach mainly western music, and who teach three of the TPWM, TPTCM, and TPTFM courses. As the data were obtained with the interview form, which was created for the research, and with a 5-point Likert-type scale, "Convergent Parallel Mixed Method Design", in which qualitative and quantitative data were utilized, were used. For the analysis of the data, quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed separately in the mixed method, and the data were obtained. The data regarding the quantitative extend of the research were evaluated within each sub-problem and these were presented with frequency-percentage tables. By considering the statistical means of the data given in the frequency-percentage tables, preliminary predictions about the general opinion were made. The data regarding the qualitative extend of the research were obtained through interviews and revealed using the content analysis method. In line with the four sub-problems created in the research, first of all, it is seen that three fundamental changes have been made from the establishment of fine arts high schools to the present day. In our research, the subject topics of TPWM, TPTCM and TPTFM courses in programs of fine arts high schools, which give weight to western music, Turkish classical music and Turkish folk music, were compared. As a result of the survey conducted with teachers for the quantitative extent of the research, since the course teachers generally graduated from the department of music education, they reported that they could easily teach the subjects of western music, but they had difficulties for teaching the subjects of Turkish music. Considering the general situation of the students regarding the TPWM course, it was seen that the subjects of the theoretical part were grasped above average and mostly by the students, and for the practice part, although it is relatively lower than the theoretical part, it was seen that they achieved a medium level of success. In terms of TPTCM and TPTFM courses of the students, it was determined through the answers given by the teachers that the theoretical learning of the subjects by the students occurred at a relatively lower level than the TPWM course and the success regarding practice part was also at a lower level than the theoretical part. In addition, in the qualitative extent of the research, according to the results obtained in line with the qualitative findings obtained during the interviews with the teachers who teach three of the TPWM, TPTCM, and TPTFM courses, the teachers; in terms of student readiness level, defended that after teaching the tonal scales and theoretical knowledge in Western music, teaching the modal scales in Turkish music makes teaching modal scales easier and more understandable and suggested that TPWM, TPTCM, and TPTFM courses should be included in the curriculum, respectively. Also the teachers suggested that, due to the insufficiency of the hours of these courses in the curriculum, the course hours should be increased as the achievements related to the courses were insufficient especially in the practice extent; the curriculum contents should be revised considering the grade level and student level; and due to the lack of branching for these courses at the undergraduate level, in-service trainings and activities for the education-training needs of the teachers who will conduct these courses should be organized. Keywords: Fine Arts High School, Theory and Practice of Western Music, Theory and Practice of Turkish Classical Music, Theory and Practice of Turkish Folk Music, Program, Acquisition.