Effects of Practice Schedule on Wind Instrument Performance: A Preliminary Application of a Motor Learning Principle

Abstract

The effects of three practice schedules on beginning instrumental achievement were explored. A total of 19 seventh-grade clarinet and saxophone students completed one 18-minute practice session using either a blocked schedule causing a low level of cognitive (contextual) interference, a hybrid schedule causing a moderate level of interference, or a serial schedule causing a high level of interference. No main effects were found at immediate acquisition testing or 24-hr delayed retention testing for technical accuracy, attitude toward practice, or musicality. A significant practice Condition × Trial interaction was found for musicality. The discussion examines the discrepancy between technical and musical achievement. Recommendations are given for future research applying motor learning principles to instrumental music contexts.