The Young’s Perception Competence in terms of Art Music versus Age of the Study Participants. Reflections on Music Education

Introduction: The young’s perception competence in the area of art music and age as its predictor are rarely studied. The related results may contribute to multifaceted measures, particularly necessary reforms in the universal music education system. Since school remains to be the only venue in which this music genre competence is shaped in the systemic and multi-staged manner. Research Aim: The study has aimed at assessing the level of the young’s music perception competence shaped in adolescence and young adulthood as far as art music is concerned. The crucial intention has also been to define the relationship with selected conditionalities, out won which age has been singled out to verify whether it is a variable that is statistically significant in terms of the correlation with the competence. Research Method: Quantitative strategy and test method have been applied to the study. Results: The age of the study participants has been indicated to be statistically significant for the ultimate results of the test and its respective parts – identification of style periods in music, a composer’s style, instruments and voices as well as the knowledge on the music literature. Young adults have scored higher. Conclusion: The study participants have shown substantial deficits to the extent of the auditory identification of essential aspects of art music. The competence level at issue has been assesses be low. Age has turned out to be statistically significant in terms of the correlation with the test results, accounting for a higher score in the case of the older age group. The study indicates that the universal music education requires transformation.