IMITATION OF SINGING STYLES FROM TELEVISION TALENT SHOWS AMONG MUSIC MAJOR STUDENTS AND ITS PEDAGOGICAL IMPLICATIONS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24191/jca.v3i1.10171Keywords:
music major students, television talent shows, singing style imitation, vocal pedagogy, popular music educationAbstract
Television talent shows have emerged as a powerful cultural force in contemporary popular music, shaping public perceptions of vocal aesthetics, performance styles, and musical success. With their widespread visibility and media circulation, these programs increasingly influence not only general audiences but also students receiving formal music education. Among music major students, the imitation of singing styles promoted by television talent shows has become a prominent phenomenon, raising important pedagogical concerns within higher music education. This study examines the imitation of televised singing styles among music major students, focusing on how media-driven vocal models shape students’ technical choices, expressive approaches, and artistic orientations. Rather than viewing imitation solely as a negative consequence of mass media influence, this paper explores both the constructive and problematic dimensions of imitation within vocal learning processes. Drawing on interdisciplinary perspectives from music education, popular music studies, and imitation theory, the study conceptualizes television talent shows as informal learning environments that coexist with, and sometimes challenge, traditional academic vocal training. By analyzing the influence of television talent shows, the forms of imitation exhibited by students, and the resulting impacts on vocal development, this study offers pedagogical insights for vocal instruction in higher music education. The findings contribute to ongoing discussions on integrating popular music culture into formal vocal pedagogy and propose teaching approaches that balance technical rigor, expressive freedom, and the cultivation of individual vocal identity.
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