A Case Study of Piano Teaching Strategies for Preschool Education Majors in Higher Vocational College

Abstract

This exploratory case study focuses on the basic piano course in the preschool education program at L Vocational College. The research objectives were 1) to investigate the factors affecting piano learning among vocational students and 2) to explore teaching strategies to improve the current piano teaching model. The study conducted a two-semester teaching experiment with 50 second-year preschool education students, involving pre-test, teaching, strategy improvement, and post-test phases. Research tools included 1) 5-point Likert scale of student opinions on current teaching models, 2) student interview records, and 3) classroom observation of students' piano learning. We adopted a mixed-methods approach. The results indicated that the current piano teaching model faces four key challenges: 1) the current teaching content of basic piano courses lacks, 2) students have weak piano playing skills, 3) lack of academic recognition of vocational education qualifications, and 4) lack of practical opportunities for students. To address these issues, the researchers implemented several innovative teaching strategies in the second semester, including 1) expansion of piano teaching materials, 2) career preparation and instructional integration, and 3) specific operations for the optimization of teaching methods. These strategies positively impact students' piano learning experiences, enhancing their engagement and learning efficiency.