Considerable practice is needed for success in playing an instrument. However, music students often lack a clear understanding of how to practice on their own. In the present study, we address this issue using action research because we wanted to improve teaching aimed at developing three viola students' perceived productivity and self-awareness…

This paper moves beyond a therapeutic perspective in the study of musical performance anxiety (MPA) coping and adopts a social support analytical approach. It explores the collaborative nature of university music students' MPA coping throughout instrumental/vocal learning and performance preparation. Semi-structured interviews and thematic…

The qualitative study revealed how 15 choristers from an adult amateur choir with different musical experience supplemented their weekly formal choir rehearsals with self-directed informal learning strategies to learn the choral concert repertoires in Hong Kong. Semi-structured individual interviews were used to obtain data for the study. The data…

Achieving fluency in sightreading--particularly rhythm reading--is cited by researchers as a universally problematic component of formal music education. This study employed an experimental design to examine the efficacy of focused practice on rhythm reading with targeted feedback. College music majors (n = 28) were sent a novel, challenging piece…

Learning to self-regulate during practice is one of the most important skills that music majors must learn. Yet, because practising tends to occur mostly in private, there can be a disconnect between instructors' approaches to teaching practice skills in the lesson and students' actual behaviour in the practice room. This case study explored the…

The importance of music teachers reflecting on their teaching practise has been discussed for a long time [(Gaunt 2008. "One-to-one Tuition in a Conservatoire: The Perceptions of Instrumental and Vocal Teachers." "Psychology of Music" 36 (2): 215-245; Schön 1987. "Educating the Reflective Practitioner." San…

The purpose of the study was to examine types of parental involvement associated with independent music lessons. A self-report survey was designed to explore parent characteristics, parental goals, students' musical progress, the teacher-student relationship, the practice environment, and parent behaviours during practice sessions. The extent to…

The purpose of this exploratory study was to examine the practice strategies that collegiate music majors chose to employ in preparing for a jazz improvisation performance, and the relationships among selected practice behaviours and achievement in instrumental jazz improvisation. Participants for the study (N = 62) were enrolled as music majors…

The body of research examining deliberate practice and self-regulation in musical instruction has grown extensively over the past several decades, while at the same time many practices in the independent music studio remain unchanged and/or under-researched. Compelling evidence indicates that students with high levels of self-regulation experience…

This article reports the findings of a pilot project undertaken by a professional freelance chamber orchestra in collaboration with conservatoire-based researchers exploring the potential value of professional development activities for musicians and their employers. Key members of the orchestra took part in two improvisation workshops,…

Research into musical practice has over recent decades focused on the technical and organisational strategies employed by novices and experts. What has been less studied are the background factors or influences on the quality of this music practice. Drawing on interview data collected from 66 children and adults from a mixed methods project, we…

This pilot study is to examine whether it is valuable to implement jazz choral practice in Hong Kong primary school setting. The findings can serve as a reference to explore the possibilities of promoting jazz education in Asian countries or in China. The participants were 70 public primary school students from grade 2 to 5 in Hong Kong. All…

In higher education music, individual practice remains a unique and solitary activity, perhaps the least accessible to the scrutiny of either teachers or researchers. This study reports on an investigation of the variety among student approaches to practice, with reference to year groups, age, instrumental groups and examination results. Data were…

This is a study of the marks that were awarded for students' personal attributes, when used as peer assessment criteria, in their band rehearsals. Successive cohorts of first-year undergraduate students, from 2001 to 2009, were involved in the research comprising of 191 students and 84 bands. Data analysis focused on the strength of marking…

Individual music practice is a vital aspect of a student's development as a musician. Research indicates that expert music performers utilise substantial planning and a systematic approach to practice sessions, including problem identification, strategy planning and evaluation (Hallam 2001b), all of which are components of self-regulated thinking.…