Learning musical instruments requires a significant amount of independent, unsupervised effort by students in the current post-secondary pedagogical context. A vital role of the teacher is therefore to help a student improve at the art of independent practice. The theory of contextual interference in skills learning has demonstrated better…

Exposure to high sound levels may lead to a variety of hearing abnormalities, including Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL). Pre-professional university music majors may experience frequent exposure to elevated sound levels, and this may have implications on their future career prospects (Jansen, Helleman, Dreschler & de Laat, 2009). Studies…

This study analyzed the relationship between MI (musical independence) and placement in college instrumental ensembles, the influence of instrument family and gender on the development of MI in postsecondary students, and identification of those outstanding MI students most at risk of dropping music as their college major. Instrumentalists (N=354)…

This paper examines the relationships between musical independence or MI (a reflection of the product rather than the process of musicianship), related academic courses, and other music/nonmusic activities at the postsecondary education level. The first purpose of the study is to examine the relationships between MI and Colwell's Musical…

This study evaluated the relationship between musical independence and: students' gender; home environment; high school and college academic and musical experiences; and college instrumental organization, major, and instrument. The study also evaluated students' opinions regarding attrition in music education and evaluated the spectrum of musical…