EFFECTS OF USING A WESTERN MUSIC SKILL PRACTICE PACKAGE ON BASIC ACOUSTIC GUITAR PERFORMANCE FOR GRADE 7 STUDENTS IN THE ARTS LEARNING AREA (BASIC GUITAR)

Abstract

This study aimed to 1) Develop and determine the efficiency of a Western music skills practice package titled Basic Acoustic Guitar for Grade 7 students in the Arts Learning Area, Strand 2: Music, using the 80/80 criterion, 2) Compare students' learning achievement before and after instruction with the package, and 3) Examine their satisfaction with this learning approach. A one-group pretest-posttest design was employed. The participants were 25 Grade 7 students at Sattahip Wittayakom School who enrolled in Practical Western Music 1 (Code 20205) during the first semester of the 2016 academic year. They were selected through purposive sampling. The research instruments consisted of four practice booklets, lesson plans, a 40-item achievement test, and a student satisfaction questionnaire. Data were analyzed using means, percentages, standard deviations, and a paired-samples t-test. The findings showed that the practice package achieved an efficiency score of 85.80/86.60, exceeding the prescribed 80/80 benchmark. Students' achievement scores after instruction were significantly higher than their scores before instruction at the .01 level. Overall, students reported a high level of satisfaction with the package. The findings indicate that practice materials arranged in a clear progression from foundational knowledge to performance can help learners review essential content, practice repeatedly, and develop their skills over time. The structured activities may also encourage active participation and foster positive attitudes toward music learning. By combining carefully sequenced content with repeated practice tasks, the package gave students opportunities to revisit essential points and move gradually from basic understanding to actual guitar performance. Its use also offered teachers a coherent structure for planning lessons, monitoring practice, and providing timely guidance. The package may therefore serve as a practical resource for introductory acoustic guitar instruction in Grade 7 and as a useful guide for organizing performance-based music activities within a structured and supportive learning process.