THE RESEARCH OF MUSICAL ABILITIES OF PIANISTS

Abstract

Purpose. The purpose of the paper is the theoretical and empirical research of the pianists’ musical abilities. Methods. The research has been conducted on the basis of Sumy Higher School of Arts and Culture named after D.S. Bortniansky. The main study involved 30 students of the specialty “Musical Arts” of the specialty “Piano”. For the purpose of empirical research of the musical abilities of pianists, we have used the following psychodiagnostic methods: (musical hearing, musical-rhythmic sensation, musical memory, musical thinking) by Yu.A. Tsagarelli.

Results. According to the results of empirical research, it can be stated that in the sample more than half of the studied people have an above average level of development of melodic hearing, so these pianists are able to distinguish changes in the work and adequately perceive the harmonious coloration of the melody. The overwhelming majority of the pianists of the respondents are characterized by an average level of development of harmonious hearing, so they may have some difficulties in certain changes in the harmonic functions of the tonal. Within the study of high-pitched sound of pianists the ability to determine a given pitch has been evaluated and its varieties were distinguished: absolute active, absolute passive, absolute synesthetic, pseudo-absolute. It has been found that among the studied pianists, the largest group is formed by those, who have developed absolute passive and absolute synaesthetic high-pitched sound hearing. The ability to perceive correctly and reproduce time in music has been studied in the research of music-rhythmic sensation. Most of the subjects have a sense of pace and meter developed above average, while the sense of rhythm is average. Thus, the respondents can have complications in adequate reproduction of the rhythmic pattern. The study of music memory has identified the preference for the pianists of auditory music memory, so they have the ability to preserve the images of listening music and instantly play them. The musical thinking of most of the pianists is reproductive, so they play melodic, harmonious, timbre and rhythmic connections in the music.

Conclusions. An average level of development of harmonious hearing and a sense of rhythm has been established in an empirical study of the pianists’ musical abilities. Therefore, there is a need to develop the ability to detect changes in the harmonic functions of the mode and the perception of rhythmic pattern. Respondents’ preference for reproductive thinking indicates the need to develop creative musical thinking, that will help create melody, harmonic and rhythmic connections within the music.