Another factor may be the amount of class time required for a composition project. All of

these factors and others may contribute to an elementary music educator's choice to

avoid composition. Finding materials and processes that ensure student success and

can be implemented with ease are significant aspects of this study.

                               Purpose of the Study

      The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of color materials on student

performance of music composition. Results of this study may be useful to elementary

music educators as they determine the most effective teaching method for performance

accuracy on pitched instruments. By assessing students' performance accuracy of their

own compositions, the types of materials used for instruction can be evaluated. The

following research question guided the study: To what extent does utilizing colored

pencils and colored mallets affect the accuracy of students' performance of their own

compositions?

                                   Delimitations

      The following will not be accounted for in this study: previous music experience

or lessons, music aptitude, rhythmic accuracy, general classroom experience, gender,

or ethnicity.

                                Definition of Terms

      solfege: The use of syllables in association with pitches as a mnemonic device

for indicating melodic intervals (Hughes & Gerson-Kiwi, n.d.).