THE EFFECTS OF SEVCIK OP.8 PRACTICES IN THE CELLO EDUCATION OF MUSIC TEACHER CANDIDATES

Abstract

Aim of this study is to obtain the opinions of students on Sevcik Op.8 practices used in the instrument education of music teacher candidates, and to identify the effects on their education. The study is designed as a qualitative and descriptive research focusing on situation determination. Being one of the qualitative research methods, the study is based on content analysis method. Firstly, the researcher conducted an eight-week course with sophomore, junior and senior year undergraduate students about the technique of cello within the scope of “Individual instrument” course. Sevcik Op.8 practices 3., 5., 8., 10., 14., 18., 24., 32., 36., 38. were exercised with 12 undergraduate students in accordance with their levels and grades, forming the sample of the research, and they were interviewed at the end of the practice. While analyzing the data, the emphases made according to the themes which were asserted by the research questions were identified, and opinions of students were presented with the help of descriptive analysis technique. At the end of the interviews held with music teacher candidates, it was concluded that the book containing Sevcik Op.8 exercises is useful in terms of technique; it prepares students for instrument playing and improves their control over the instrument during cello education; and that it is mostly effective on position shifts and intonation practices in left hand techniques, while its effects are rather prominent for equal bowing speed and legato in right hand techniques.