CHAPTER 19 : EFFECT OF VOCAL MUSIC ON LEARNING AMONG PUPILS IN SELECTED PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN IKOT EKPENE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, AKWA IBOM STATE

Abstract

This study aimed to explore the effects of vocal music on learning among pupils in selected primary schools in the Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area. Also, to discover how vocal music influences the emotional, social, physiological and cognitive development of children. The methodology used for the study includes the questionnaire developed to elicit information on the performance of the pupils from the teachers. Participants consisted of One hundred and Fifty (150) pupils from the five primary schools with pupils from primary three, (age bracket Six to Seven years old). Two groups were involved – the experimental and the control groups. Each class in each school was divided into two groups (Group A: Experimental) and (Group B: Control). Achievement tests were also conducted on the pupils to determine the rate of assimilations and retention of learned materials with vocal music as a teaching aid and learned materials without vocal music as a teaching aid. It was discovered that the children's performances and the rate of assimilation and retention ability on learned materials with vocal music as a teaching aid in the Experimental groups were higher than the performances and the assimilation and retention ability on learned materials without vocal music as a teaching aid in the Control groups. In conclusion, the study recommends that the use of vocal music as instructional material in learning in childhood is important. Therefore, teaching music as well as other subjects with vocal music should be incorporated into educating children.

Keywords: Effect, Vocal music, Learning and Pupils.