2015 Volume 56 Issue 3 Pages 226-235
A rhythm reproduction task was performed using factors of rhythm patterns, addition of stress accent, and participants' music appreciation time in everyday life. Thirty-one deaf and twenty-four hearing participants attended the experiment. Three kinds of rhythm pattern were composed by varying the ratios of the inter-stimulus interval (ISI) of the constructing tone stimuli; 1: 2, 1: 3, and 1: 2: 3. Performance of rhythm reproduction by the participants was best with the 1: 2 ISI ratio rhythm, followed by the 1: 3 and 1: 2: 3 patterns in both groups. The deaf participants were divided into two groups based on whether or not they have music appreciation time in everyday life, and rhythm reproduction performance was higher in the group with such appreciation. Further, the addition of a stress accent in rhythm patterns promoted reproduction in both groups, especially in the group without music appreciation time. The results of this research revealed that patterns of difficulty in rhythm reproduction are similar in groups with and without hearing impairment, and music appreciation time and the addition of a stress accent promote rhythm reproduction.
