Observation, description, and analysis of practice strategies among vocal music majors

Date

2007-12

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Abstract

The purposes of the current study were to observe, analyze and describe practice strategies among vocal music majors by video recording participants in the most natural environment possible in order to identify total amount of practice time, warm-up time versus repertoire time, strategies used, and the frequency of strategies. In addition, the researcher also examined participants' thoughts and perceptions about practice through interviews and a questionnaire. Participants (N=10) consisted of vocal music majors recruited from a large university in the southwest. Results revealed that participants did not practice as much as their reported average amount of practice time per week, and the participant with the most practice time practiced a little over an hour a week. Participants spent an average of 12% of time on warm-up and 88% of time on repertoire. The researcher observed 50 practice strategies, and the strategy that was used the most was singing in the original language of the song. The 50 observed practice strategies were grouped into nine categories, and the category that was used the most was learning and memorizing text. The category that was used the least was breathing exercises.

Description

Keywords

Video recording, Participant observer, Applied lesson

Citation