The purpose of this study was to investigate intermediate musicians’ self-regulated practice behaviors. Thirty sixth- through eighth-grade students were observed practicing band repertoire individually for 20 min. Practice sessions were coded according to practice frame frequency and duration, length of musical passage selected, most prominent musical objective, and practice behaviors. The 600 min of video were parsed into 234 practice frames for analysis. Practice sessions also were rated for overall degree of self-regulation. Reliability of the observational procedures (three observers, 95% to 100% agreement) and self-regulation ratings (two raters, coefficients of .89 to .96) was excellent. Analyses revealed an average of 7.8 practice frames with a mean duration of 2 min 45 s across sessions. Participants most frequently addressed the musical objective pitch accuracy and most commonly selected passages of nine measures in length or greater. The most common practice behaviors were varying tempo, repeating fewer than four measures, repeating more than four measures, and irrelevant playing. Significant relationships were found between self-regulation ratings and frequencies of the behaviors writing on music ( r = .55), varying tempo ( r = .42), repeating four or more measures ( r = .41), and irrelevant playing ( r = −.59). Implications for future research and practical applications are discussed.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the music teaching efficacy beliefs and commitment to teaching of preservice music teachers enrolled in an introductory music education course. Also explored was the impact of introductory music education course experiences on preservice music teachers’ music teaching efficacy beliefs and commitment to teaching. This study was conducted in a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design, organized into two strands (Strand I: Quantitative, Strand II: Qualitative). Introductory music education students ( N = 684) from 41 National Association of Schools of Music–accredited institutions participated in Strand I, with a nested sample of 24 interviewees participating in Strand II. Preservice music teachers’ efficacy beliefs were interpreted as having two dimensions: music teaching efficacy beliefs and classroom management efficacy beliefs. Mixed-methods analyses indicated that introductory music education students’ music teaching efficacy beliefs may have been impacted by a variety of course experiences, including individual mentoring, peer teaching, and field experience. Participants’ commitment to teaching may have been strengthened by mentoring, although instances of weakened commitment were rare. Additional findings included the types and qualities of experiences perceived by participants as influential to music teaching efficacy beliefs or commitment.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of music practice instruction on middle school band and orchestra students’ practice behaviors. Participants received 4 weeks of practice strategy instruction. Prior to, and following the intervention, self-reported practice strategy lists (N = 136) and video of individual practice sessions (n = 35) data were collected from 7th- and 8th-grade band and orchestra students. Self-reported data were coded and analyzed using descriptive statistics. More than 23 hours of video data (participants’ independent practice sessions) were analyzed using a practice frames evaluation scheme. Video data were further analyzed using an observational measure of self-regulation. Analyses revealed that participants identified and employed significantly more practice strategies following the intervention. Although repetition was the most commonly observed practice strategy overall, posttest practice sessions included more strategic forms of repetition (e.g., repetition of shorter sections and whole-part-whole repetition). Video analysis further revealed that following practice strategy instruction, participants exhibited significantly fewer and longer practice frames as well as more varied practice objectives. Weak relationships emerged between participants’ practice behaviors and their overall degree of self-regulation. Implications for classroom practice and future research are discussed.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of music practice instruction on middle school band students’ ability to articulate and incorporate practice strategies. Participants were middle school band students at a large suburban middle school ( N = 105). Using a pretest–posttest quasi-experimental design, participants were divided into control ( n = 53) and experimental ( n = 52) groups. Participants in the experimental group received 3 weeks of practice strategy instruction during ensemble warm-up time, and the control group continued with their typical warm-up routine. Pretest and posttest data included self-reported practice strategy lists ( N = 105) and video of individual practice sessions ( n = 20). Both self-reported and video data were coded and analyzed using descriptive statistics as well as pretest–posttest within-groups comparisons. Thirteen hours of video data were further analyzed using an observational measure of self-regulation. Analyses revealed that experimental group participants identified and utilized significantly more practice strategies following the instructional intervention. Posttest experimental group practice sessions also revealed a more mature approach to practicing, including more strategic behaviors, greater variety in musical objectives, and longer periods spent focused on short excerpts of music. Implications for future research and middle school instrumental classroom practice are discussed.

Helping young musicians learn how to practice effectively is a challenge faced by all music educators. This article presents a system of individual music practice instruction that can be seamlessly integrated within large-ensemble rehearsals. Using a step-by-step approach, large-ensemble conductors can teach students to identify and isolate difficult passages, select appropriate practice strategies, and make improvements to their playing. This model of practice instruction draws on Albert Bandura's concept of observational learning, as well as music education research.