Date of Award
Summer 7-24-2026
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Music (MM)
Department
Music
First Advisor
Dr. Andrew Chybowski; [email protected]
Second Advisor
Dr. Marie Smith; [email protected]
Third Advisor
Dr. Brian Sims; [email protected]
Keywords
music therapy, songwriting, improvisation, Kodály, Orff-Schulwerk, Dalcroze
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to gain a better understanding of how beneficial music therapy techniques and tools would be to the motivation of students within the music classroom. This study is to inform teachers of the development of music therapy as a field, how music therapy techniques can help motivate students within the classroom, the pedagogy of well-established music teaching methods and their effect on student learning. With this knowledge teachers can be more purposeful and intentional in their lesson planning. In this writing we will examine the brief history of music therapy and how it correlates to music, the connection between Kodaly, Orff, and Dalcroze methods with techniques such as playing instruments, vocalization, improvisation, and composition, and how music therapy techniques such as songwriting, dancing/movement, and rhythm-based activities/drumming can improve a student’s motivation. This study was completed by reading peer-reviewed articles, publicly available lesson plans, and by drawing on my own classroom experiences. These tools can better help teachers motivate their students through their lesson planning and classroom management, which can lead to the development of different skills.
Recommended Citation
Smith, Lance M., "IMPROVING STUDENT MOTIVATION WITHIN AND OUTSIDE THE MUSIC CLASSROOM" (2026). Electronic Theses & Dissertations. 849.
https://digitalcommons.pittstate.edu/etd/849
