The effects of COVID-19 on practice habits : exploring the experiences of senior undergraduate music students

Abstract

The study explored the experiences of senior undergraduate music performance or first instrument majors (third and fourth year in 2020) at the University of Pretoria during the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in a national lockdown, led to the closure of all tertiary education institutions in South Africa. As it became evident that the lockdown would need to last significantly longer than the initial three weeks, the University of Pretoria implemented online learning models for the academic year to be completed, and campus remained closed to students for the remainder of 2020. The study was conducted using a qualitative research methodology and it was guided by a collective case studies research design. Music students who were senior undergraduate in 2020 and that were enrolled for the modules Musiek Eerste Instrument 400 (First Instrument), or Musiek Eerste Instrument 403 (Performance) were recruited to participate in the study. Semi-structured interviews were used to engage participants. The interviews gathered data on the students’ experiences of practice and motivation during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study also explored the perceptions of students regarding their practicing and motivation before and during the pandemic. The research found that students were able to overcome the hurdles of campus closure and remain motivated and somewhat consistent in their practice. The importance of well-developed practice routines and strong student-teacher relationships in retaining motivation to practice was also highlighted. However, strain was experienced due to inexperience with online learning, connectivity issues, and a perceived decline in relationships, making access to campus and campus facilities a necessity for successful music studies. The implications of the study are towards the continued development of online learning and assessment models for tertiary music education. It is also recommended that further studies at different institutions in South Africa may be beneficial, as well as investigation into students’ experiences at the first- and second-year level of study during the COVID-19 pandemic.