'n Ondersoek na voorbereidingstrategieë vir laerskool klavierleerders ten opsigte van deelname aan streeks- en nasionale musiekkompetisies in Suid-Afrika - Van Wyk, J. A. (University of the Free State, 2018)
Music competitions play a particular role in the musical and holistic development of talented piano learners, especially regarding exposure to stage performance, mastery of challenging repertoire, dealing with tension, as well as dealing with both success and disappointment after competition participation. The goal of this study was to address the gap in literature regarding effective preparation strategies for music competitions. This includes the physical, artistic and psychological aspects of the learner’s development. The role of the teacher in the musical development and motivation of the learner, as well as the expectations of both the learner and the parent, are considered. A qualitative research method was applied to investigate the experiences of teachers, learners and parents regarding competition participation. Purposeful, stratified sampling was employed and thematic data analysis was conducted to arrive at the conclusions of this study, by forming themes and sub-themes, and making comparisons with existing literature. The focus of the research was regional and national music competitions for primary school learners in South Africa, with specific reference to piano learners and piano teaching. The findings indicate that competition participation at primary school level is a joint effort, in which the teacher, learner and parent all fullfil a specific function, with the teacher playing a more leading role. All three role players’ dedication, enthusiasm, joint goal setting, motivation, emotional support, and growth-oriented attitude are determining factors in the musical development and possibly successful competition participation of the learner. Music competitions should further be seen as opportunities for development, and not as end goals. The conclusions of this study could be valuable for less experienced teachers and future competition participants, possibly making competition participation accessible to more teachers and learners.

Musiekkompetisies speel ’n spesifieke rol in die musikale- en geheelontwikkeling van talentvolle klavierleerders, veral wat betref blootstelling aan verhoogoptrede, die bemeestering van uitdagende repertorium, die hantering van spanning, asook die hantering van sukses en teleurstelling na afloop van kompetisiedeelname. Die doel van hierdie studie was om die leemte in die literatuur aan te vul betreffende effektiewe voorbereidingstrategieë vir musiekkompetisies. Dit sluit die fisiese, artistieke en psigologiese aspekte van die leerder se ontwikkeling in. Die rol van die onderwyser in die musikale ontwikkeling en motivering van die leerder, asook verwagtinge van die leerder en die ouer word beskou. ’n Kwalitatiewe navorsingsmetode is toegepas om die ervaringe van onderwysers, leerders en ouers ten opsigte van kompetisiedeelname te ondersoek. Doelgerigte, gestratifiseerde steekproewe is gebruik en tematiese data-analise is aangewend om, deur die vorming van temas en subtemas, en vergelyking met die literatuur, die gevolgtrekkings van hierdie studie te vorm. Die fokus van die navorsing was streeks- en nasionale musiekkompetisies wat in Suid-Afrika vir laerskoolleerders plaasvind, met spesifieke verwysing na klavierleerders en klavieronderrig. Die bevindinge dui daarop dat kompetisiedeelname op laerskoolvlak ʼn gesamentlike poging is waar die onderwyser, leerder en ouer elkeen ʼn spesifieke funksie verrig, met die onderwyser wat ʼn meer leidende rol speel. T oewyding, entoesiasme, gesamentlike doelwitstelling, motivering, emosionele steun, en ʼn groei-ingesteldheid by al drie partye, is bepalend van die musikale ontwikkeling en moontlike suksesvolle kompetisiedeelname van die leerder. Musiekkompetisies moet verder as ʼn geleentheid tot ontwikkeling en nie as ʼn einddoel gesien word nie. Die gevolgtrekkings van hierdie studie kan van waarde wees vir minder ervare onderwysers en toekomstige kompetisiedeelnemers, wat kompetisiedeelname moontlik toeganklik vir meer onderwysers en leerders kan maak.
Dissertation (M.Mus. (Music))--University of the Free State, 2018
Keywords: Music competition preparation; Music competition participation; Stage performance; Holistic approach; Training methods; Motivation