Musical instruments used in music education in Türkiye and a literature review of research on instrument selection

Abstract

Instrument selection constitutes the first stage and one of the most important parts of the instrument playing process. Correct instrument selection is one of the most powerful factors for the proper, successful, and effective progression of a music career. Incorrect instrument selection may lead to outcomes such as losing interest in the instrument or decreased interest in music, and in individuals receiving professional music education, it may result in an incorrect shaping of their music career and facing numerous difficulties in their professional life. For this reason, it is important to correctly identify instrument preferences, understand the many determining factors during the instrument selection phase, and shape the process accordingly. This study aims to examine the musical instruments used in music education in Turkey, their organological structures, and the research conducted on instrument selection. The method of this research is determined as a literature review. The study includes an examination of the instruments used in the Ministry of National Education curriculum and research conducted in Turkey between 2007 and 2025. In this study, based on the findings obtained in the field of instrument selection, 25 instruments were selected for review at the preschool, elementary school, middle school, and high school levels. In addition, 6 master's theses and 11 research articles were reviewed. Out of the 17 studies reached, 14 were directly related to instrument selection, while 3 were indirectly related. The indirectly related studies were categorized under indirect relationships since they primarily focused on instrument education and motivation in instrument education or covered only a specific instrument. When the studies were generally examined, it was concluded that instrument selection is particularly influenced by factors such as age, gender, music taste, and income level.