Date of Graduation

Summer 2024

Degree

Master of Music

Department

Music

Committee Chair

Daniel Hellman

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a practice and assessment tool, Skill Ladders, as used by my 7th grade orchestra students. This is a tool that I created to help students focus on specific skill acquisition and musical development during their practice time. Designed for the middle section of intermediate level playing skills and aligned with curricular goals, students were to utilize this tool to set goals, practice, self-assess, and demonstrate progress. Prior to utilizing Skill Ladders, students completed a survey of baseline attitudes toward individual practice. After the trial period of the study, a second survey was conducted on how students perceived the tool’s usefulness. I also recorded my assessments and observations of the tool’s effectiveness in a journal. Analysis of the results showed that students who have played instruments for a longer time or took private lessons were slightly more likely to find Skill Ladders helpful, but most students found it difficult to navigate, challenging and boring. I discuss the potential and problems of Skill Ladders and what can be done to make the tool more useable for middle school students.

Keywords

middle school orchestra, practice, self-assessment, self-regulation, achievement goals, attribution, skills

Subject Categories

Music Education | Secondary Education

Copyright

© Linda Kathy Hughes

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Open Access

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