MINIMALIST EFFECTS IN PIANO TRAINING: THE ANALYSIS OF PHILIP GLASS ETUDES

Abstract

This study aims to determine to what extent the etudes in the books of Philip Glass Etudes for Piano are in accordance with the desired behaviors in the piano training at the level of undergraduate 3- undergraduate 4 of Department of Music Education. The study is a descriptive one which employs a qualitative research method. The data in the study was collected with the document analysis method. In this study, 20 etudes in Philip Glass Etude for Piano Book 1- Book 2 have been examined. The content analysis method was employed to analyze the study data. The collected data was analyzed by making the frequency (f) and percentage (%) calculations, and evaluated by presenting them as tables. It was detected that mezzo forte, mezzo piano, crescendo, decrescendo and piano were used frequently as a result of the desired behaviors regarding musical dynamics; legato, chord and octave techniques were employed often as a result of desired behaviors regarding technical skills. Therefore, it was observed that the examined etudes comply with the desired behaviors identified for the piano training in undergraduate program for the department of music education. In line with these results, it is suggested to have them played in the classes to increase the musical idea richness of students at the level of undergraduate 3 and undergraduate 4 in the department of music education, and to introduce the different techniques of contemporary works to the students taking piano lessons in departments of music education and to have them play those works.