An Investigation of Preschool Teachers’ Use of Traditional Turkish Music in Music Activities

Abstract

This study aims to determine to what extent preschool teachers include traditional Turkish music within the scope of music activities and what is the effect of this music on children. The study which was designed as qualitative research. A total of 50 preschool teachers, 92% of whom are female (n=46) and 8% are male (n=4), constitute the participants of the study. In the study, “semi-structured interview form” prepared by the researchers was used as a data collection tool. The obtained data were analyzed according to thematic analysis technique. The research findings were analyzed under four themes: “Likes and Use”, “Teaching”, “Developmental Contributions” and “Challenges and Solutions”. As a result of the research, it was found that preschool teachers partially included traditional Turkish music in their music activities, they did not receive training on teaching traditional Turkish music during their undergraduate education, children had various difficulties in vocalizing traditional Turkish music, and traditional Turkish music had development areas such as cognitive, psychomotor and language skills on children. It has been concluded that it has positive effects on the development of cultural memory and cultural transmission.