Enhancing Musical Literacy in University Choirs Using Kodály Hand Signs and Culturally Adapted Syllables

Masni Fanshuri; Ardipal Ardipal; Paul H Mason; Masni Erika

doi:10.15548/jt.v33i1.1089

Enhancing Musical Literacy in University Choirs Using Kodály Hand Signs and Culturally Adapted Syllables

Masni Fanshuri, Ardipal Ardipal, Paul H Mason, Masni Erika

Abstract

This study evaluates the effectiveness of the Kodály Method specifically hand sign and rhythm syllable techniques in improving the musical literacy of non-music major university students. Addressing the prevalent issue of passive imitation in student choirs, this research employed a quantitative quasi-experimental post-test only control group design involving 40 participants from the Universitas Andalas Faculty of Law Student Choir. The experimental group underwent 12 sessions of intensive training utilizing Solfège hand signs and culturally adapted rhythm syllables while musical proficiency was measured using a validated sight-singing test assessing pitch and rhythm accuracy. Quantitative analysis using an independent sample t-test revealed a statistically significant improvement in the experimental group (t=6.513, p<0.05) with data distribution confirmed as normal (Kolmogorov-Smirnov > 0.05). These findings demonstrate that the intervention successfully bridged the gap between aural imitation and theoretical understanding. Consequently, the study confirms that the Kodály Method is a highly effective and time-efficient pedagogical strategy for adult beginners. By fostering musical independence and self-correction, this approach reduces reliance on rote learning. The research recommends implementing these techniques in non-formal higher education vocal training to accelerate the transition from novice singer to independent musician.

Keywords

Kodály method; musical; literacy; sight-singing; university

10.15548/jt.v33i1.1089

Abstract view : 740 times

PDF : 499 times

Full Text:

PDF

References

Adeoye, M. A. (2023). Review of sampling techniques for education. ASEAN Journal for Science Education, 2(2), 87–94.

Ahmad, N., Mustafa, F., & Aziz, H. A. (2023). Responsibility to rescue refugees at sea under international law. JE Asia & Int’l L., 16, 363.

Almulla, M. A. (2023). Constructivism learning theory: A paradigm for students’ critical thinking, creativity, and problem solving to affect academic performance in higher education. Cogent Education, 10(1), 2172929.

Argyriou, M. (2025). Musical literacy as multimodal and multicultural practice: Reimagining education, identity, and social inclusion in a globalised context. European Journal of Social Sciences Studies, 10(6).

Balti, G. A., Alamgir, M., & Hussain, A. (2024). Speaking mother tongue feels easy, while a second language feels tiring: A neurolinguistic study. Journal of Applied Linguistics and TESOL (JALT), 7(4), 1140–1148.

Bennett, C. (2022). Teaching culturally diverse choral music with intention and care: A review of literature. Update: Applications of Research in Music Education, 40(3), 60–70. https://doi.org/10.1177/87551233211051946

Bond, V. L., & Russell, J. A. (2021). Culturally responsive pedagogical/andragogical context knowledge: A conceptual model for music education. Journal of Music Teacher Education, 30(3), 11–25. https://doi.org/10.1177/1057083721993738

Bottalico, P., Łastowiecka, N., Glasner, J. D., & Redman, Y. G. (2022). Singing in different performance spaces: The effect of room acoustics on vibrato and pitch inaccuracy. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 151(6), 4131–4139.

Boylan, D. A. (2024). High school choir teachers’ perceptions of music education students’ undergraduate college readiness characteristics. Wilkes University.

Capili, B., & Anastasi, J. K. (2024). An introduction to types of quasi-experimental designs. AJN The American Journal of Nursing, 124(11), 50–52.

Caregnato, C., Da Silva, R., Vital Otutumi, C. H., & Santos Da Rocha, L. J. (2024). The effect of collective sight-singing before melodic dictation: A pilot study. International Journal of Music Education, 42(2), 319–330. https://doi.org/10.1177/02557614231152306

Cham, H., Lee, H., & Migunov, I. (2024). Quasi-experimental designs for causal inference: An overview. Asia Pacific Education Review, 25(3), 611–627.

Chang, H.-Y., Binali, T., Liang, J.-C., Chiou, G.-L., Cheng, K.-H., Lee, S. W.-Y., & Tsai, C.-C. (2022). Ten years of augmented reality in education: A meta-analysis of (quasi-) experimental studies to investigate the impact. Computers & Education, 191, 104641.

Chen, B., & Li, C. (2025). A quasi-experimental study on the application of musescore software to improve sight-singing and ear-training abilities in music education at Chuzhou University. International Journal of Sociologies and Anthropologies Science Reviews, 5(5), 609–626.

Cruywagen, S., & Potgieter, H. (2020). The world we live in: A perspective on blended learning and music education in higher education. The Journal for Transdisciplinary Research in Southern Africa, 16(1). https://doi.org/10.4102/td.v16i1.696

Cuskelly, J. (2021). The Kodály philosophy: Contemporary interpretations and practices. In The Routledge Companion to Aural Skills Pedagogy (pp. 287–297). Routledge.

Dewanckele, C., Van Lierde, K., Redman, Y. G., Kissel, I., Adriaansen, A., Papeleu, T., Daelman, J., Bettens, K., Verbeke, J., & Van der Straeten, C. (2025). The power of singing in childhood: Voice quality and voice-related quality of life in children choir singers. Journal of Voice.

Fiveash, A., Bella, S. D., Bigand, E., Gordon, R. L., & Tillmann, B. (2022). You got rhythm, or more: The multidimensionality of rhythmic abilities. Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics, 84(4), 1370–1392. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13414-022-02487-2

Gautam, P. (2025). The role of students’ mother tongue in EFL classes. English Language Teaching Perspectives, 10(1–2), 1–17.

Habsy, B. A., Malora, P. I., Widyastutik, D. R., & Anggraeny, T. A. (2023). Teori Jean Piaget vs Lev Vygotsky dalam perkembangan anak di kehidupan bermasyarakat. Tsaqofah, 4(2), 576–586.https://doi.org/10.58578/tsaqofah.v4i2.2325

Hair, J. F., Black, W. C., Babin, B. J., & Anderson, R. E. (2014). Analisis data multivariat. Pearson Education Limited.

Hodge, S. R. (2020). Quantitative research. In Routledge handbook of adapted physical education (pp. 147–162). Routledge.

Hossan, D., Dato’Mansor, Z., & Jaharuddin, N. S. (2023). Research population and sampling in quantitative study. International Journal of Business and Technopreneurship (IJBT), 13(3), 209–222.

Houlahan, M., & Tacka, P. (2022). Choral artistry: A Kodály perspective for middle school to college-level choirs, Volume 1. Oxford University Press.

Jane Osareme, O., Muonde, M., Maduka, C. P., Olorunsogo, T. O., & Omotayo, O. (2024). Demographic shifts and healthcare: A review of aging populations and systemic challenges. Int J Sci Res Arch, 11(1), 383–395.

Jansson, D., Haugland Balsnes, A., & Durrant, C. (2022). The gesture enigma: Reconciling the prominence and insignificance of choral conductor gestures. Research Studies in Music Education, 44(3), 509–526. https://doi.org/10.1177/1321103X211031778

Jiang, Q. (2025). The impact of Kodály, Orff Schulwerk, and Suzuki music teaching methods on the development of students’ musical abilities: A systematic review. Teaching and Teacher Education, 159, 104991.

Keast, D. A., & Sanchez, P. (2022). The application of sound technology for teaching applied music lessons online: A case study. Australian Journal of Music Education, 54(1), 27–47.

Kiss, B., & Józsa, K. (2026). Students’ motivation for classroom music in hungary: An expectancy–value study within the Kodály tradition. Music & Science, 9, 20592043261417091. https://doi.org/10.1177/20592043261417091

Liu, P., Cao, Y., & Wang, L. (2022). A multimodal fusion online music education system for universities. Computational Intelligence and Neuroscience, 2022, 1–13.

Lu, Y. (2024). Political Demography: The political consequences of structural population change. Annual Review of Sociology, 50(1), 603–625.

Mabini, J. P. (2024). Comparative analysis of Kodály, Suzuki, Dalcroze, Orff, and Gordon music learning theory in early childhood music education: A literature review. International Journal of Research Publications, 150(1), 956–967.

Makwana, D., Engineer, P., Dabhi, A., & Chudasama, H. (2023). Sampling methods in research: A review. International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development, 7(3), 762–768.

Mandanici, M., Spagnol, S., Ludovico, L. A., Baratè, A., & Avanzini, F. (2023). Digital music learning resources: from research to educational practice. Springer Nature Singapore.

Mattingly, B. T. (2025). The collaborative effort of Zoltán Kodály and his students in the development of the Kodály concept. Journal of Historical Research in Music Education, 46(2), 154–172. https://doi.org/10.1177/15366006231213393

McLeod, S. (2025). Zone of proximal development. Simplypsychology.Org.

Naufal, N., Apriani, F., Fajriana, N., Nurdin, K., & Siswanto, D. H. (2025). Analisis multivariat. Padang. Literasi Langsung Terbit.

Ness, I. J. (2022). Zone of Proximal Development. In V. P. Glăveanu (Ed.), The palgrave encyclopedia of the possible (pp. 1781–1786). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-90913-0_60

Noor, S., Tajik, O., & Golzar, J. (2022). Simple random sampling. International Journal of Education & Language Studies, 1(2), 78–82.

Norfai, S. K. M. (2022). Analisis data penelitian (Analisis Univariat, Bivariat dan Multivariat). Penerbit Qiara Media.

Nørskov, A. K., Lange, T., Nielsen, E. E., Gluud, C., Winkel, P., Beyersmann, J., de Uña-Álvarez, J., Torri, V., Billot, L., & Putter, H. (2021). Assessment of assumptions of statistical analysis methods in randomised clinical trials: The what and how. BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine, 26(3), 121–126.

Pieper, L. H., Körner, M., Wiedemann, M., Ludwig, A., Werner, F., Meuret, S., & Fuchs, M. (2022). Analyzing longitudinal data on singing voice parameters of boys and girls aged 8 to 12.5 and possible effects of a music pedagogical intervention. Journal of Voice, 36(4), 583-e1.

Richards, C. V. (2025). Kodály For string teachers. American String Teacher, 75(3), 34–37. https://doi.org/10.1177/00031313251349502

Scheuerman, W. E. (2023). Civil disobedience. In M. Sellers & S. Kirste (Eds.), Encyclopedia of the philosophy of law and social philosophy (pp. 450–455). Springer Netherlands.

Shaw, J. T. (2022). Culturally responsive, relevant, and sustaining pedagogies. The Choral Journal, 63(3), 51–60.

Shi, Y. (2025). Multimodal teaching in digital media arts education: Insights and challenges from teachers’ perspectives. Cogent Education, 12(1), 2590849.

Stevenson, J. F. (2020). Quasi-experimental designs. SAGE Publications Ltd.

Tang, P., Zhou, X., Zhou, Y., & Cheng, R. (2025). How do multimedia and blended learning enhance music elective courses? Examining the roles of learning attitudes, styles, and teaching presence. PLOS One, 20(6), e0326037.

Togatorop, G., & Lestari, A. (2025). Perbandingan Efektivitas Model Pembelajaran Behavioristik, Kognitivistik, Dan Konstruktivistik. Sinergi: Jurnal Ilmiah Multidisiplin, 1(2), 1359–1370.

Trejo, C. A., Márquez, J. J. A., Mena, A. M., & Cisneros, J. C. (2022). The relationship of political obligation and civil disobedience in correlation with the new democracies of 21st century socialism. Centro Sur, 6(1).

Trinite, B., Barute, D., Blauzde, O., Ivane, M., Paipare, M., Sleze, D., & Valce, I. (2024). Choral conductors vocal loading in rehearsal simulation conditions. Journal of Voice, 38(5).

Wang, J., & Fan, W. (2025). The effect of ChatGPT on Students’ Learning Performance, Learning Perception, and Higher-order Thinking: Tnsights From a Meta-analysis. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 12(1), 621.

Wardani, H. K. (2022). Pemikiran teori kognitif Piaget di sekolah dasar. Khazanah Pendidikan, 16(1), 7. https://doi.org/10.30595/jkp.v16i1.12251

Wisniewski, B., Zierer, K., & Hattie, J. (2020). The power of feedback revisited: A meta-analysis of educational feedback research. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 487662.

Wu, W. (2024). Analysis of the practical application of Kodaly method by music teachers in Mianzhu middle school, China [Master’s Thesis, University of Malaya (Malaysia)].

Zanto, T. P., Giannakopoulou, A., Gallen, C. L., Ostrand, A. E., Younger, J. W., Anguera‐Singla, R., Anguera, J. A., & Gazzaley, A. (2024). Digital rhythm training improves reading fluency in children. Developmental Science, 27(3), e13473.

Zhang, X., & Zhang, J. (2024). A new model of vocal music teaching in the context of internet distance learning. International Journal of Web-Based Learning and Teaching Technologies, 19(1), 1–12.https://doi.org/10.4018/IJWLTT.348336

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15548/jt.v33i1.1089