Graphic Representation of Musical Concepts: A Computer Assisted Instructional System. Final Report.

Computer Assisted Synthesizer System (CASS), a portable music synthesizer system which can produce tones from ordinary paper and pencil graphs, was developed and its usefulness for music instruction evaluated in this study. After completion of a pilot study to determine the feasibility of developing CASS and to run a trail test period, 28 fifth and eighth grade students were randomly selected to be given instruction utilizing the system. Subjects received six weeks of instruction, and at the end of this period, they were compared with random samples of instrumental music students and with general music students from the same school. The results indicated that the CASS training was as effective as the study of conventional musical instruments. Because of some unexpected results with the general music students, it is considered that another variable, such as motivation, may be of importance in predicting the differential response to the three treatments. (The technical aspects of CASS are described in an appendix.) (Author/SH)