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The design thinking process as an approach to facilitate problem-solving in piano repertoire
Smit, Marnel. 2024. The design thinking process as an approach to facilitate problem-solving in piano repertoire. Unpublished masters dissertation. Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/131913 Thesis (MMus)--Stellenbosch University, 20...
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2025
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| _version_ | 1867613941828419584 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Smit, Marnel |
| author2 | Muller, Danell |
| author_browse | Muller, Danell Smit, Marnel |
| author_facet | Muller, Danell Smit, Marnel |
| author_sort | Smit, Marnel |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Smit, Marnel. 2024. The design thinking process as an approach to facilitate problem-solving in piano repertoire. Unpublished masters dissertation. Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/131913
Thesis (MMus)--Stellenbosch University, 2024. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/131913 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:44:08.546Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/131913 The design thinking process as an approach to facilitate problem-solving in piano repertoire Smit, Marnel Muller, Danell Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Music. Piano -- Instruction and study Problem solving -- Technique Performance practice (Music) -- Instruction and study Piano repertoire -- Instruction and study Design thinking -- Strategic aspects UCTD Smit, Marnel. 2024. The design thinking process as an approach to facilitate problem-solving in piano repertoire. Unpublished masters dissertation. Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/131913 Thesis (MMus)--Stellenbosch University, 2024. ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Learning to play the piano can be challenging for many students and can present various obstacles. While some students may possess effective problem-solving skills that allow them to overcome obstacles relating to learning new pieces of music, others may struggle to develop them, making the learning process more arduous. Despite the literature regarding specific methods of practising, most of it is orientated around mechanical practising, involving repetition without considering musical elements such as phrasing, timbre, touch, and correct performance practices. To propose a more empathetic approach that could benefit all students, this study used the Design Thinking process to address issues that selected pieces may bring to musicians/students. Design Thinking is an inclusive, human-centred, iterative approach to problem-solving that centres and honours the human experience and offers a practical and effective approach to solving these problems. It can enable individuals to use suggested practising strategies and adjust the time or practising tactics needed to play a passage flawlessly, avoiding purely mechanical practising, considering the unique needs of different developing musicians and students. This approach aims to provide musicians/students with problem-solving approaches, skills and systematic and creative ways to tackle simpler and more complex challenges that piano repertoire brings that allows for innovative solutions to meet the pianist’s needs as well as what the piece in its entirety requires. The Design Thinking process was used as a framework for the research, and different problemsolving tactics and approaches were consulted by pianists and pedagogues. Pieces from the South African syllabus, UNISA, were chosen for analysis through the Design Thinking process, consulting practising approaches from renowned pianists and pedagogues. Standard composers and forms from the Grade 5 piano compilation were selected, which included a twopart invention, a Classical dance form, Bagatelle, a character piece, theme and variations, a Baroque dance form, Bourée, and an etude. The research focused on the Iteration stage of Design Thinking to facilitate problem-solving within the selected piano pieces mentioned. This stage provides musicians with specific ways to practice certain sections of a piece. The data analysis process involved a combination of techniques and strategies rooted in Empathy, allowing one to understand the needs of the musician/student and develop solutions tailored to their unique circumstances and experiences. In summary, Design Thinking is an effective approach to consider when addressing issues that arise when learning a new piano piece. Whether the challenge is with the piece as a whole or specific sections, Design Thinking offers a human-centred approach that encourages individuals to develop innovative solutions that meet their unique needs and circumstances. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Om klavier te leer speel kan vir verskeie studente uitdagend wees en kan verskeie struikelblokke bied. Terwyl sommige studente oor effektiewe probleemoplossingsvaardighede beskik wat hulle in staat stel om struikelblokke met betrekking tot die aanleer van nuwe musiekstukke te oorkom, is daar ander individue wat sukkel om dit te ontwikkel. Dit bemoeilik die leerproses. Ten spyte van die literatuur wat handel oor spesifieke metodes van klavier oefen, is die meeste daarvan georiënteer rondom meganiese oefening wat herhaling behels sonder om musikale elemente soos frasering, toonkleur, die aanraking van die klawers en korrekte uitvoeringspraktyke in ag te neem. Om ʼn meer empatiese benadering voor te stel wat alle studente kan bevoordeel, het hierdie studie die “Design Thinking” proses, oftewel, Ontwerpdenkproses, gebruik om kwessies aan te spreek wat die verkose stukke vir musikante/studente kan bring. Ontwerpdenke is ʼn inklusiewe, individu-gesentreerde, veranderlike benadering tot probleemoplossing wat fokus op mense se ervaring, dit eerbiedig en ʼn praktiese en effektiewe benadering bied om hierdie probleme op te los. Dit kan individue in staat stel om voorgestelde klavieroefenstrategieë te gebruik en die tyd of oefentaktiek aan te pas wat nodig is om ʼn gedeelte in ʼn stuk foutloos te speel, om suiwer meganiese oefening te vermy, wat unieke behoeftes van verskillende ontwikkelende musikante en studente in ag neem. Hierdie benadering het ten doel om musikante/studente van probleemoplossingsbenaderings, vaardighede en sistematiese en kreatiewe maniere te voorsien om die eenvoudige en meer ingewikkelde uitdagings wat klavierrepertorium bring, aan te pak en in die proses voorsiening maak vir innoverende oplossings om aan die pianis se behoeftes te voldoen, asook wat die stuk in sy geheel vereis. Die Ontwerpdenkproses is as ʼn raamwerk vir die navorsing gebruik, en verskillende probleemoplossingstaktieke en -benaderings deur pianiste en pedagoë, is geraadpleeg. Stukke uit die Suid-Afrikaanse sillabus, UNISA, is vir ontleding deur die Ontwerpdenkproses gekies, wat praktiese benaderings van bekende pianiste en pedagoë raadpleeg. Standaardkomponiste en vorms uit die Graad 5-klaviersamestelling is gekies, insluitend ʼn tweestemmige invensie, ʼn Klassieke dansvorm (Bagatelle), ʼn karakterstuk, tema en variasies, ʼn Barokdansvorm (Bourée) en ʼn etude. Die navorsing het op die Iterasie-stadium van Ontwerpdenke gefokus, om probleemoplossing binne die geselekteerde klavierstukke te fasiliteer. Hierdie stadium bied musikante spesifieke maniere om sekere gedeeltes van ʼn stuk te oefen. Die data-ontledingsproses het ʼn kombinasie van tegnieke en strategieë behels wat in Empatie gegrond is, wat ʼn mens in staat stel om die behoeftes van die musikant/student te verstaan en oplossings te ontwikkel wat aangepas is vir hul unieke omstandighede en ervarings. Samevattend, Ontwerpdenke is ʼn effektiewe benadering om te oorweeg wanneer kwessies ontstaan in die aanleerproses van ʼn nuwe klavierstuk. Oftewel die uitdaging by die stuk as ʼn geheel lê, en of dit spesifieke seksies in die stuk is, bied Ontwerpdenke ʼn mensgesentreerde benadering wat individue aanmoedig om innoverende oplossings te ontwikkel wat aan hul unieke behoeftes en omstandighede voldoen. Masters 2025-04-09T08:17:11Z 2025-04-09T08:17:11Z 2024-12 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/131913 Stellenbosch University xiii, 106 pages : illustrations, music application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Piano -- Instruction and study Problem solving -- Technique Performance practice (Music) -- Instruction and study Piano repertoire -- Instruction and study Design thinking -- Strategic aspects UCTD Smit, Marnel The design thinking process as an approach to facilitate problem-solving in piano repertoire |
| title | The design thinking process as an approach to facilitate problem-solving in piano repertoire |
| title_full | The design thinking process as an approach to facilitate problem-solving in piano repertoire |
| title_fullStr | The design thinking process as an approach to facilitate problem-solving in piano repertoire |
| title_full_unstemmed | The design thinking process as an approach to facilitate problem-solving in piano repertoire |
| title_short | The design thinking process as an approach to facilitate problem-solving in piano repertoire |
| title_sort | design thinking process as an approach to facilitate problem solving in piano repertoire |
| topic | Piano -- Instruction and study Problem solving -- Technique Performance practice (Music) -- Instruction and study Piano repertoire -- Instruction and study Design thinking -- Strategic aspects UCTD |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/131913 |
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