The impact of practice on quality of sleep in performance major music students

Abstract

Existing literature reveals that musicians and music students are susceptible to poor sleep quality due to several aspects related to the conservatoire culture and the musical temperament. Furthermore, music students’ investment in music often comes at the expense of healthy lifestyles, meaning that sleep is not prioritised. At present, it is unclear whether music students are receiving and developing the necessary sleep knowledge as part of their performance training. Therefore, this study set out to examine the potential impact of practice on sleep quality in a sample of seven South African performance major music students. A mixed methods approach was used comprising of three, distinct research phases: Firstly, questionnaires measuring perceptions of practice, sleep, and psychological states were completed. Secondly, participants kept numeric logs of their practice and sleep for four weeks. Lastly, music students’ lived experiences of practice and sleep were discussed during semistructured online interviews. The main findings reveal an interplay of factors of practice that collectively influence sleep. Although the quantity and organisation of practice show some influences, the qualitative components of practice, such as the nature, perceptions, and experiences of practice have the most conclusive impacts on sleep. This study highlights the value of developing an understanding of how practice strategies and experiences of practice may impact sleep, since this, in turn, directly affects music students’ daily practice, performance, and overall wellbeing.