The Impact of Augmented Reality on Motor Skills in Piano Education: Improving the Left-Hand Technique with AR Piano

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of augmented reality (AR) technologies on the development of motor skills, specifically left-hand piano playing skills, among piano students. The paper employed the AR Piano application, which generates three-dimensional, intuitively understandable visualizations aimed at facilitating the piano learning process, thereby minimizing the cognitive load on students. The Piano Proficiency Test-2 was used to analyze piano playing skills. The sample consisted of 297 right-handed third-year students from three educational institutions in China. According to the post-test results, the experimental group, which underwent training utilizing augmented reality (AR) technology, exhibited significantly greater skill level improvement following the experimental period compared to the control group. These findings suggest a positive effect of AR technology application on the development of motor skills and may provide valuable insights to researchers exploring the application of AR technologies in diverse educational settings, particularly for musical instrument instruction.