Influence of Different Periods on Teaching Classical Western Music in Türkiye: Example of Piano Education

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Yahşi F. E., Çelikten Hepgüler İ.

INTERNATIONAL ONLINE JOURNAL OF EDUCATION AND TEACHING, vol.13, no.3, pp.145-162, 2026 (Scopus)

Abstract

  •  This study employs a descriptive comparative research design to examine and compare the piano curricula and graduation-level performance outcomes of conservatories in Türkiye offering 12-year integrated and 4-year undergraduate piano programs in classical Western music. The study group comprises 31 volunteer students selected from conservatories representing both program models, whose end-of-term examination performances were observed and evaluated. Data were collected through end-of-term and graduation examination observations as well as written curriculum documents and examination programs obtained from participating institutions. Performances were assessed using a rubric-based scoring framework encompassing three criteria: technical proficiency, musical proficiency, and repertoire/form mastery. The data were analyzed comparatively to identify proficiency differences attributable to education duration. The findings indicate that students in 12-year programs consistently demonstrated higher performance levels across all three assessment criteria, with graduation-stage performances predominantly clustered within the advanced and professional ranges, whereas students in 4-year programs were primarily concentrated within the basic and intermediate ranges. Based on these findings, recommendations are proposed to raise the graduation-level standards of 4-year programs, including the introduction of admission-level performance requirements, part-time preparatory programs, and differentiated diploma classifications.