Edited by: Robin Lee Bargar, Columbia College Chicago, United States
Reviewed by: Carlos Vaz De Carvalho, Polytechnic Institute of Porto, Portugal; Anton Nijholt, University of Twente, Netherlands
This article was submitted to Human-Media Interaction, a section of the journal Frontiers in ICT
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While the expansion of technologies into the music education classroom has been studied in great depth, there is a lack of published literature regarding the use of digital technologies by students learning in individual settings. Do musicians take their technology use into the practice room and teaching studio, or does the traditional nature of the master-apprentice teaching model promote different attitudes among musicians toward their use of technology in learning to perform? To investigate these issues, we developed the Technology Use and Attitudes in Music Learning Survey, which included adaptations of Davis's 1989 scales for Perceived Usefulness and Perceived Ease of Use of Technology. Data were collected from an international cohort of 338 amateur, student, and professional musicians ranging widely in age, specialism, and musical experience. Results showed a generally positive attitude toward current and future technology use among musicians and supported the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), wherein technology use in music learning was predicted by perceived ease of use via perceived usefulness. Musicians' self-rated skills with smartphones, laptops, and desktop computers were found to extend beyond traditional audio and video recording devices, and the majority of musicians reported using classic music technologies (e.g., metronomes and tuners) on smartphones and tablets rather than bespoke devices. Despite this comfort with and access to new technology, availability reported within one-to-one lessons was half of that within practice sessions, and while a large percentage of musicians actively recorded their playing, these recordings were not frequently reviewed. Our results highlight opportunities for technology to take a greater role in improving music learning through enhanced student-teacher interaction and by facilitating self-regulated learning.
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The expansion of technology within society is a defining feature of the twenty-first century, revolutionizing how people work, learn, communicate, and spend their leisure time. This is particularly true in the domain of music, where technology has become a presence, if not a requirement, in musical creation, production, expression, dissemination, promotion, and consumption (Hugill,
The role of technology in the music classroom has benefited from two decades of close attention. Early work examined the emerging use of and access to technological resources in the music classroom (Bray,
The explosion of online music resources has also shaped the sphere of music learning, both in the classroom and beyond. Millions of instructional music videos can be found via online portals such as YouTube, used not only by individuals in informal learning practices but being actively incorporated into educational frameworks (Waldron,
Less has been published regarding the role of technology in one-to-one teaching settings and instrumental learning. Existing evidence tends to be anecdotal or out-of-date relative to the quickly changing world of technology, such as one question in a survey of 100 instrumental teachers by Barry and Mcarthur (
Considering the lack of published literature on musicians' use of and attitudes toward music technology in instrumental learning, and the explosion of new technologies now available to them, this study examined (1) musicians' skills with and attitudes toward technologies in their day-to-day lives, (2) how they engage with technology in the learning of musical instruments, (3) how attitudes as music learners differ from music teachers, and (4) musicians' attitudes toward potential new technologies and what factors predict adoption of new tools. To investigate this, an exploratory survey study was designed and disseminated to an international cohort of musicians varying in age, experience, and instrument specialism.
The respondents were 338 musicians (57% female) with a mean age of 29.7 years (SD = 11.9, range = 16–82). They had a mean experience of 16.8 years (SD = 10.7, range = 1–68 years), with representation from professional (29%), student (44%), and amateur (27%) groups and 94% having taken formal lessons on their primary instrument for a mean 11.5 years (SD = 7.1, range = 1–50). The cohort was international, representing 43 countries across six continents, with a significant proportion being British (43%) and the next highest representation from the USA, Lithuania, Singapore, and Canada (5–6% each). The range of primary instruments included keyboard (36%), strings (including guitar and electric bass; 35%), and woodwind and brass (23%), with the remaining 6% comprising a mix of percussion, vocal, and other instruments. Three quarters (76%) of the cohort reported
The Technology Use and Attitudes in Music Learning Survey was developed for this study. The complete survey is available as
The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). Figure adapted from Davis (
The third section asked about technology access, use, and attitudes in learning one's primary instrument, including whether the standard technologies listed above are available in their practice room and lesson space, whether the “classic” music technologies of metronomes, tuners, and audio/video recording devices are accessed via smartphone or on bespoke devices. They were then asked about drivers toward and barriers from incorporating technology into their music learning based on 7-point scales adapted from Gilbert (
The final section examined attitudes toward future technologies, including the perceived potential utility of new technology to help with the same skill categories and subskills listed above, and responses to three hypothetical technologies proposed by the authors involving the use of audio, video, and motion capture technologies to be used alone in the practice room or in conjunction with a teacher. A final section was presented for active music teachers only, briefly comparing their attitudes toward and use of technology in their roles as teachers to their roles as music learners and the degree to which they engaged in various technology-driven teaching activities including advertising, scheduling lessons, and tracking student progress. The survey also contained a section shown to violinists as part of a sister project, the results of which are not reported here and details of which are not included in the
The survey was distributed online via SurveyMonkey using social media channels and email lists, with assistance from a number of professional music organizations and educational institutions. The survey was designed to place general technology use early in the form, thus allowing for examination of the first area of focus (musicians' general skill with music technology in their day-to-day lives) with a data set prior to dropouts. Of the 338 respondents, complete data sets were recorded for 207. For all analyses, missing data were excluded casewise and N values and degrees of freedom are reported accordingly throughout.
To examine differences within participants' use of and attitudes toward technology, repeated-measures ANOVAs were employed with relevant items included as independent variables and the responses to those items (via commensurable 7-point scales) as the dependant variables. In cases where a rank-ordering of responses within survey item (e.g., skill at using devices) was of interest, items were ordered from highest to lowest mean descriptive value before entry into a repeated-measures ANOVA with a planned repeated contrast comparing each item with the one following. Thus, the contrast could determine where significant differences in skill existed within the ordering, and where groups of items emerged within which no significant difference could be found and serving as a “tie” in the rank ordering. For example, if a five-item scale were ordered A-E, items A and B may form a tied group in which A was not significantly higher than B. However, B may be significantly higher than C, after which no significant differences remain, leaving group A-B significantly higher than group C-E. Where Mauchly's W indicated a violation of sphericity (
An adapted form of the Technology Acceptance Model (Davis,
Musicians were asked the degree to which they were skilled at using a variety of technologies on 7-point scales. A repeated-measures ANOVA (with item as the independent variable and response as the dependent variable) with a repeated contrast was conducted to determine where significantly different groupings of skills occurred (as described above in “Procedure and Analyses”). The ANOVA revealed a significant main effect [F(6.02, 2028.68) = 429.10,
Mean self-reported skills in using technological devices.
Laptop | 6.08 (1.19) | 1.34 | NS | 0.00 |
Smartphone | 6.02 (1.35) | 3.72 | NS | 0.00 |
Desktop | 5.88 (1.41) | |||
TV | 5.24 (1.81) | 0.01 | NS | 0.00 |
Tablet | 5.23 (1.80) | |||
Audio recording | 4.33 (1.99) | |||
Video recording | 4.01 (1.98) | 0.59 | NS | 0.00 |
Audio playback | 3.92 (2.15) | |||
MoCap | 2.04 (1.64) | 0.31 | NS | 0.00 |
Smartwatch | 1.98 (1.72) |
Mean self-reported skills for using technological devices. Musicians reported the highest skills in using laptop and desktop computers and smartphones, and the lowest for smart watches, and motion capture technologies. Skills with audio and video recording devices, as well as audio playback, were close to the midpoint. Age and sex had a relatively small effect on these ratings. Error bars show 95% CI. 1 =
On the same 7-point scale, musicians were asked the degree to which they sought out new technologies (M = 4.41, SD = 1.72), enjoyed learning to use new technologies (M = 4.98, SD = 1.71), and enjoyed using new technologies (M = 5.08, SD = 1.61) in their day-to-day lives. Analyses using Kendall's Tau found no significant correlations with age, although Bonferroni-corrected
Musicians were asked whether they had access to a series of technologies in the spaces where they normally practice and receive lessons (see
Regular technology access in the practice and lesson space.
Smartphone | 225 (75%) | 128 (40%) |
Laptop | 183 (54%) | 56 (17%) |
Tablet | 128 (38%) | 64 (19%) |
Audio recorder | 120 (36%) | 62 (18%) |
Audio playback | 80 (24%) | 41 (12%) |
Desktop computer | 74 (22%) | 26 (8%) |
Video recorder | 59 (18%) | 21 (6%) |
Television (large screen) | 59 (18%) | 18 (5%) |
Smartwatch | 23 (7%) | 8 (2%) |
Motion capture | 16 (5%) | 2 (<1%) |
For four specific music technologies (metronomes, tuners, audio recorders, and video recorders) musicians were asked whether they primarily use these functionalities on a separate device, on their phone, or not at all (see
Use of standard music technologies.
Metronome | 285 | 170 (60%) | 98 (34%) | 17 (6%) |
Tuner | 278 | 126 (45%) | 91 (33%) | 61 (22%) |
Audio recorder | 277 | 172 (62%) | 84 (30%) | 21 (8%) |
Video recorder | 269 | 167 (62%) | 51 (19%) | 51 (19%) |
The next two questions examined drivers of and barriers preventing adoption of technology use in learning musical instruments, adapting scales by Gilbert (
Drivers toward and barriers to using technology in music learning.
…it is useful | 5.53 (1.47) | |||
…it is available | 5.27 (1.77) | |||
…it helps reach goals | 4.99 (1.73) | 0.53 | NS | 0.00 |
…it is easy to use | 4.91 (1.60) | |||
…I have knowledge | 4.67 (1.76) | |||
…I have support | 4.37 (1.82) | 0.35 | NS | 0.00 |
…it saves me time | 4.30 (2.03) | |||
…it is inexpensive | 3.81 (1.93) | |||
…it is required | 3.10 (1.96) | |||
…it is not required | 4.22 (2.22) | |||
…it is too expensive | 3.55 (2.09) | 0.01 | NS | 0.00 |
…it is not available | 3.53 (2.13) | |||
…it is not useful | 3.13 (1.96) | 1.03 | NS | 0.00 |
…there isn't enough time | 2.98 (1.96) | 0.63 | NS | 0.00 |
…I don't know enough | 2.88 (1.92) | |||
…it is too difficult | 2.50 (1.61) | 0.01 | NS | 0.00 |
…I don't have support | 2.49 (1.69) |
As employed for general technology use, Davis's (
Musicians were then asked where they use technology in music learning on a 7-point scale from
Self-reported use of technology to develop performance skills.
Career | 4.16 (2.35) | |||
Musical | 3.70 (2.00) | 0.03 | NS | 0.00 |
Technical | 3.68 (2.16) | |||
Practice | 3.43 (2.04) | 0.07 | NS | 0.00 |
Ensemble | 3.39 (2.16) | 0.21 | NS | 0.13 |
Life | 3.32 (2.16) | |||
Presentation | 3.02 (2.14) |
Self-reported use of technology to develop performance skills. Musicians reported the highest skills in career development, followed by developing musical and technical skills, then by practice, ensemble, and life skills, with presentation the lowest. Error bars show 95% CI. 1 =
The categories of musical, technical, and practice skills comprised a series of sub-skills. A repeated measures ANOVA was employed (with item as the independent variable and response as the dependent variable) with sub-skills included among the overall rankings followed a deviation contrast in which every skill subset was compared with the grand mean of all skills combined. As a deviation contrast does not compare the first- (or last-) entered variable, the overall practice skill score was placed in first position as it was the category closest to the mean score of the seven skill categories (i.e., 3.53). A significant main effect was found [
Self-reported use of technology to develop performance skills, including subskills. The highest technology use was for the musical skill (blue) of rhythmic accuracy, and the lowest use was for the technical skills of handling the instrument, posture, and developing timbre, and the practice skills of avoiding injury and reviewing feedback. Error bars show 95% CI. 1 =
The next section examined the frequency with which the musicians engage in technology-driven activities, namely keeping records of time spent practicing, having distance lessons over video, and various forms of performance recording and viewing (see
Frequency of technology-driven musical activities.
Document time (with tech) | 64% |
2% | 10% | 10% | 9% | 3% | 3% |
Document time (no tech) | 60% |
3% | 7% | 10% | 7% | 12% | 2% |
Lessons over video | 79% | 7% | 7% | 4% | 2% | 1% | 0% |
Record own playing | 7% | 13% | 34% | 17% | 20% | 5% | 3% |
Review own recordings | 20% | 17% | 28% | 18% | 10% | 4% | 3% |
Record others' playing | 26% | 18% | 20% | 12% | 10% | 1% | 1% |
Review others' recordings | 10% | 8% | 21% | 22% | 21% | 11% | 7% |
A short section was completed by musicians who reported themselves as active music teachers (
Comparison of technology attitudes as learner vs. teacher.
27% | 34% | 39% | |
12% | 57% | 31% | |
34% | 39% | 26% | |
12% | 55% | 33% | |
9% | 56% | 35% |
Music teachers were then asked the degree to which they used technology in a series of teaching-specific activities. A repeated measures ANOVA showed a significant effect of skill [
Self-reported use of technology for music teaching activities.
Schedule | 5.07 (2.34) | |||
Advertise | 4.01 (2.49) | |||
Give feedback | 3.15 (2.29) | 1.07 | NS | 0.00 |
Organize practice time | 2.93 (2.18) | 0.17 | NS | 0.00 |
Track progress | 2.84 (2.16) | |||
Track time spent | 2.10 (1.79) |
Self-reported use of technology for music teaching activities. The highest technology use was for scheduling lessons and advertising, while the lowest were giving feedback, tracking progress, and organizing and tracking students' time spent practicing. Error bars show 95% CI. 1 =
The questions on skills developed using current technologies were repeated with reference to the potential usefulness of future technologies in addressing the same seven categories (see
Perceived usefulness of future technologies for developing performers' skills. As with current technology use, musicians gave the highest scoring for career development skills. The remaining categories did not show significant differences between them. Error bars show 95% CI. 1 =
An adapted form of the Technology Acceptance Model (Davis,
Adapted Technology Acceptance Model for current and potential future use of technologies for music learning. The model was tested using partial least squares structural equation modeling (missing data excluded casewise,
This research examined the use of and attitudes toward technology in musicians' individual learning and teaching, investigating their current use of technology in day-to-day life and in their learning, as well as opinions toward future hypothetical technologies. Across the survey, musicians were shown to be generally positive in their attitudes toward technology, active in their use, and optimistic regarding future possibilities, although notable deficits remain.
In their day-to-day lives, musicians were most skilled at using smartphones, laptops, and desktop computers to a significantly greater degree than audio and video recording devices, and playback equipment. While this is perhaps not surprising due to the relatively recent surge of such technologies in the personal sphere, it signifies that musicians are less confident with the audio and video recording devices that might be considered central to the practice of musical learning and training. Such a shift toward mobile devices and computers was also seen in the increased accessibility of these devices in the practice and lesson space compared with audio/video recording and playback equipment, as well as the fact that the majority of musicians were found to be engaging with the “classic” music technologies of metronomes, tuners, and audio/video recording functions on their smartphones as opposed to bespoke equipment. It is notable that significant differences in sex and age were not found for mobile devices and computers, suggesting the new universality of these devices that transcend stereotypical barriers. While the means reported suggested slightly higher increases in confidence with some of the lower-rated technologies (i.e., audio/video recording playback and motion capture), as well as a greater tendency to seek out and enjoy the search for new technologies, it may indicate that the established trend of men (and boys) showing greater confidence with music technologies (e.g., Colley et al.,
Regarding use of technology for music learning, musicians were found to rate the drivers to new technology significantly higher than barriers preventing them from using it. The highest rated drivers included usefulness, availability, ability to accomplish goals, and ease of use. The lowest included whether the technologies were time saving, inexpensive, and required for use. The strongest barriers were whether it was not required, its expense, and its availability, with the lowest being knowledge of use, difficulty of use, and whether support was available. This somewhat contradicts findings within the general music education classroom, where Gall (
The lower score for the subskill of
The results from the structural equation modeling support Davis (
While the study was able to reach an international cohort varying in age, experience, and nationality, generalizability of this study is limited by the nature of the convenience sampling used. In particular, participants had to engage with technology (i.e., emails, social media, internet browsers, etc.) in order to complete a survey on the use of technology. However, the near ubiquitous access to the internet and use of email in the target population minimizes the risk that major subgroups were excluded. Future research should expand on these findings by exploring deeper the reasons for and processes by which musicians choose the technology they use and the innovative ways by which they are incorporating them into their pedagogy. This work could also examine the degree to which musicians continue to use technology once it has been adapted, as continued satisfaction with technology and the potential negative effects of overhyped and under-delivered features have been shown to be powerful drivers of and barriers to continued technology engagement (Bhattacherjee and Premkumar,
The traditional models of learning music can give the impression of a rarefied culture resistant to change. The present study suggests that this is not the case. We found that technology use is being actively pursued and demanded by a population of musicians with a high degree of technological aptitude, one that particularly favors mobile devices over bespoke equipment to record audio and video or to set metronomic time. Technology, in addition to its role as a tool to network and communicate, is being used to enhance the development of technical and musical skills. However, gaps remain in technology use, particularly for aspects relating to kinematics such as posture and the avoidance of injury. Music teachers are making use of technologies to communicate with and organize time with their students, though more research is required to reveal how technology is being employed within the teaching studio and what innovations may be possible therein. New technologies, through advanced and interactive systems of behavioral analysis and feedback, have the potential to enhance communication, efficiency, efficacy, and healthy practice in music learning. By understanding the challenges faced and attitudes held by musicians that may be impeding the take-up of such systems, researchers and designers will be able to develop genuinely useful technologies for the next generation of performers, teachers will be able to enhance the feedback they can give in their classrooms and studios, and musicians will be able to expand their toolkit to build the full range of skills required for their art and their careers.
Ethical approval for the study, including approval of the study protocol, was granted by the Conservatoires UK Research Ethics Committee following the guidelines of the British Psychological Society. The survey opened with an information sheet outlining the topic and purpose of the study and informing respondents that, by beginning the survey, they were providing informed consent. Written consent was not explicity requested following the guidelines of the British Psychological Society for questionnaire-based research examining non-vulnerable populations (aged 16+).
Both authors contributed significantly to the study design, data collection and analysis, and preparation of this manuscript.
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
We would like to thank Rafael Ramirez, Alfonso Pérez, Gualtiero Volpe, Manuel Oliveira, Maria Margoudi, Madeleine Mitchell, and the TELMI team for their contributions to the survey design and dissemination, as well as the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, British Association for Performing Arts Medicine, Brent Music Service, European String Teacher's Association, Musician's Union, and the Royal College of Music for their aid in distributing the survey.
The Supplementary Material for this article can be found online at: