Vocal Sizzle
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Approach:  One to one
ACCESS
Level: Year 4 and year 8
Focus: Listening to and imitating singing  
Resources:
Audio tracks on laptop computer
FRAME 340Kb
Questions/instructions:  


[Note: this task is linked to 1996 data, not 2004]

This activity uses the computer.
In this activity you will hear some short pieces of music on the computer. Listen carefully because after you have heard each piece, you will try to sing it in the same way. Sing “doo” to each of the tunes. There are seven pieces all together. We’ll start now.

Click the Vocal Sizzle button. Discontinue the task if the student clearly indicates the wish to stop at any point. [Each piece of music was scored on two dimensions – singing in tune and singing in rhythm.]

[Click on graphics below to enlarge]
 

% responses
2008 ('96)
y4
y8
Tune 1 – Example only:    
Tune 2:    
Singing in tune:
in tune throughout
27 (19)
23 (28)
mostly in tune
25 (32)
24 (28)
in tune about half the time
14 (14)
11 (6)
mostly out of tune
28 (28)
37 (36)
speaking
3 (6)
3 (2)
Singing in rhythm:
in rhythm throughout
77 (75)
76 (76)
mostly in rhythm
15 (13)
17 (22)
mostly out of rhythm
5 (11)
5 (2)
no attempt
3 (1)
2 (0)
Tune 3:
Singing in tune:
in tune throughout
24 (21)
23 (24)
mostly in tune
23 (22)
23 (21)
in tune about half the time
21 (26)
13 (15)
mostly out of tune
26 (27)
35 (38)
speaking
5 (3)
4 (2)
Singing in rhythm:
in rhythm throughout
79 (76)
76 (78)
mostly in rhythm
16 (20)
18 (19)
mostly out of rhythm
4 (3)
4 (3)
no attempt
1 (1)
2 (0)
Tune 4:
Singing in tune:
in tune throughout
20 (16)
21 (20)
mostly in tune
28 (28)
26 (28)
in tune about half the time
23 (32)
17 (10)
mostly out of tune
25 (22)
31 (40)
speaking
3 (1)
3 (2)
Singing in rhythm:
in rhythm throughout
77 (79)
77 (71)
mostly in rhythm
16 (17)
17 (27)
mostly out of rhythm
6 (3)
4 (2)
no attempt
1 (1)
2 (0)
Tune 5:
Singing in tune:
in tune throughout
10 (13)
17 (20)
mostly in tune
27 (23)
24 (25)
in tune about half the time
27 (29)
21 (24)
mostly out of tune
33 (32)
33 (31)
speaking
2 (2)
3 (0)
Singing in rhythm:
in rhythm throughout
75 (75)
74 (75)
mostly in rhythm
20 (23)
20 (22)
mostly out of rhythm
4 (1)
5 (3)
no attempt
1 (1)
1 (0)
Tune 6:
Singing in tune:
in tune throughout
9 (8)
12 (14)
mostly in tune
19 (15)
19 (23)
in tune about half the time
27 (28)
24 (14)
mostly out of tune
41 (44)
38 (47)
speaking
3 (3)
3 (2)
Singing in rhythm:
in rhythm throughout
65 (74)
66 (59)
mostly in rhythm
27 (22)
23 (31)
mostly out of rhythm
7 (2)
7 (10)
no attempt
1 (2)
4 (0)
Tune 7:
Singing in tune:
in tune throughout
4 (3)
9 (6)
mostly in tune
18 (12)
17 (18)
in tune about half the time
28 (34)
20 (18)
mostly out of tune
46 (50)
47 (56)
speaking
4 (0)
3 (1)
Singing in rhythm:
in rhythm throughout
70 (65)
66 (63)
mostly in rhythm
23 (27)
22 (28)
mostly out of rhythm
7 (7)
9 (8)
no attempt
0 (1)
3 (1)

Total score:
45–48
9 (8)
12 (11)
39–44
24 (18)
21 (28)
33–38
30 (40)
24 (18)
27–32
25 (22)
28 (28)
0–26
12 (12)
15 (15)
Subgroup Analysis [Click on charts to enlarge] :
Year 4
Year 8
Commentary:
This task examined trends from 1996 to 2008. Students generally were much more successful at maintaining rhythmic patterns than at singing in tune. On average, girls did a little better than boys, and year 4 Pasifika students did better than their Pakeha and Mäori counterparts. There was little change in performance from 1996 to 2008.