Chapter 6--Questions 7,8

Chapter 6—Guidelines for Teaching Music in the Schools

7. What is the principle of “distributed practice”? In which domain of learning does it apply?

Distributed practice involves splitting up practice time to several shorter periods of time each day, rather than practicing for a larger chunk of time on one day to make up for missed practice. Longer practice sessions tend to be less effective, as they make a person bored more easily and cause them to make more repeated mistakes. Once a mistake is made in a long practice session, that error becomes the focus of the practice and it is overworked, causing frustration and the inability to replicate good technique or practice habits in the next practice. The most learning occurs in the first 10 minutes of practice, and after that, the level of effective practice decreases, thus making a good case for short periods of practice. The principle of distributed practice falls in the psychomotor domain of learning.

8. Arrange these affective activities in order from the least to the most commitment:

c. The students in the general music class stay in their places and stop talking as a CD is played, but many of them look out the window or daydream while doing so.
a. The general music class elects to watch a videotape on the development of jazz instead of having a free day listening to recordings the students bring to class.
b. The general music class pays attention during a report on spirituals and asks relevant questions afterward.
d. Some of the general music class members become so interested in music that they sign up for chorus in high school.