DEVELOPMENT OF METHOD BOOK FOR VIOLIN BEGINNERS THROUGH UTILIZATION OF MALAYSIAN FOLK TUNES IN THE FIRST POSITION TECHNIQUES BASED ON IVAN GALAMIAN PRINCIPLES FOR TEACHING AND LEARNING

Abstract

Early instruction in music is connected with understanding of own culture. Kodaly associates it with a sense of belonging or so-called ‘mother-tongue’ language. In the modern world, the influence of media threatens the sustainability of folk music heritage. To counter the influx of foreign culture into Malaysian violin beginners’ instruction there must be books based on profound teaching systems using traditional tunes made available. The music preferences and taste acquisition of a violin beginner are formed under the influence of folklore and composed music, which is foreign to the local violin students whereas popular traditional tunes are not reflected in the violin repertoire of those method books. The product of our research was aimed to meet the demands of the local violin teachers in terms of techniques as well as serve as an agent for sustainability of Malaysian folk heritage. The book Principles of Violin Playing and Teaching by Galamian (2013) is among three treaties that have made biggest impact on modern violin pedagogy that address both the technical and artistic aspect of violin pedagogy. His violin method proved to be successful in twentieth century. This paper expounds on methods of application Galamian’s principles through selection, utilization of Malaysian folk songs as resources and materials for the mentioned methodology as well as on interdisciplinary process of creating a chapter for a violin method book.