The purpose of this study was to examine effects of rhythmic and melodic alterations on rhythmic perception. A 30-item Rhythmic Dissimilarities Evaluation was administered to undergraduate and graduate music students. For each item, a standard rhythmic pattern was paired with itself and with nine rhythmic alterations. Each rhythmic pattern was treated with three melodic alterations including monotony, M-shaped melody, and V-shaped melody. Results of the study demonstrated that various rhythmic alterations affect perception of rhythmic dissimilarity; that melody alters perception of rhythmic dissimilarity; that the simultaneous presentation of melody and rhythm may result in reduced attention to absolute rhythmic structures in music; and that a possible relationship exists between rhythmic alterations and the degree of perceived dissimilarity.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Boyle, J. D.The effects of prescribed rhythmical movements on the ability to sight-read music (Doctoral dissertation, University of Kansas, Lawrence, 1968).Dissertation Abstracts International, 1968, 29, 2290–2291. (University Microfilms No. 68-17, 359).
2.
Carlsen, J. C.Auditory perception: concerns for musical learning. In Documentary report of the Ann Arbor Symposium: Applications of psychology to the teaching and learning of music. Reston, Virginia: Music Educators National Conference, 1981.
3.
Deutsch, D.Music and memory.Psychology Today, December 1972, 87–89, 119.
4.
Divenyi, P. L.The rhythmic perception of micromelodies: Detectability by human observers of time increment between sinusoidal pulses of two different successive frequences. In E. E. Gordon (Ed.), Experimental research in the psychology of music, Vol. 7. Des Moines, Iowa: University of Iowa Press, 1971.
5.
Dowling, W. J.Recognition of melodic transformations: Inversions, retrograde, and retrograde inversions.Perception and Psychophysics, 1972, 12, 417–421.
6.
Dowling, W. J.Rhythmic groups and subjective chunks in memory for melodies.Perception and Psychophysics, 1973, 14, 37–40.
7.
Gaston, E. T. (Ed.), Music and Therapy. New York: Macmillan, 1968.
8.
Gordon, E. E.Music learning and learning theory. In Documentary report of the Ann Arbor Symposium: Applications of psychology to the teaching and learning of music. Reston, Virginia: Music Educators National Conference, 1981.
9.
Handel, S.Perceiving melodic and rhythmic auditory patterns.Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1974, 103, 922–933.
10.
Hufstader, R. A.An investigation of a learning sequence of music listening skills.Journal of Research in Music Education, 1977, 25, 184–196.
11.
Keppel, G.Design and analysis, a researcher's handbook. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 1973.
12.
Kuhn, T. L.Discrimination of modulated beat tempo by professional musicians.Journal of Research in Music Education, 1974, 22, 270–277.
13.
Lindsay, P. H., & Norman, D. A.Human information processing (2nd ed.). New York: Academic, 1977.
14.
Long, P. A.Relationships between pitch memory in short melodies and selected factors.Journal of Research in Music Education, 1977, 25, 272–282.
15.
Madsen, C. K.Modulated beat discrimination among musicians and nonmusicians.Journal of Research in Music Education, 1977, 27, 57–67.
16.
Madsen, C. K., & Staum, M. J. Discrimination and interference in the recall of melodic stimuli. Paper presented at the Music Educators National Conference, Minneapolis, April 1981.
17.
Petzold, R. G.The development of auditory perception of musical sounds by children in the first six grades.Journal of Research in Music Education, 1963, 11, 21–43.
18.
Petzold, R. G.Child development. In Documentary report of the Ann Arbor Symposium: Application of psychology to the teaching and learning of music. Reston, Virginia: Music Educators National Conference, 1981.
19.
Radocy, R. E. Magnitude estimation of melodic dissimilarity. Paper presented at the Music Educators National Conference, Miami Beach, Florida, April 1980.
20.
Radocy, R. E., & Boyle, D. J.Psychological foundations of musical behaviors. Springfield, Ill.: Charles C. Thomas, 1979.
21.
Rainbow, E.A longitudinal investigation of the rhythmic abilities for preschool aged children.Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education, 1977, 50, 55–61.
22.
Sink, P. E. The effect of rhythmic alterations and melody on rhythmic perception. Paper presented at the Music Educators National Conference, Minneapolis, April 1981.
23.
Steck, L., & Machotka, P.Preference for musical complexity: Effects of context.Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 1975, 104, 170–174.
24.
Taylor, J. A.Perception of tonality in short melodies.Journal of Research in Music Education, 1976, 24, 197–209.
25.
Thackray, R.Rhythmic abilities and their measurement.Journal of Research in Music Education, 1969, 17, 144–148.
26.
Williams, D. B.Short-term retention of pitch sequence.Journal of Research in Music Education, 1975, 23, 53–66.
