The Correlational Research On Personality And Musical Practice Behavior

A study measured personality of undergraduates(N=200) and their instrumental practising behavior, which was investigated the correlation of some variables by quantitative research. The study used two tests, which was made of Big Five Personality Test and self-compiled research on instrumental practising. Results indicated that Big Five Structure was indeed correlated to variables of instrumental practising behavior. Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion and Agreeableness have positive correlation with most variables of instrumental practising behavior. But Neuroticism has negative correlation with most variables of instrumental practising behavior except practice changes.Obviously, Openness has distinct positive correlation with practice changes.Conscientiousness has more notable positive correlation with practice plans, warm-up tasks and practice attitudes,and it has the highest degree of positive correlation with warm-up plans. Extraversion has positive correlation with most variables of instrumental practising behavior, but the degree of correlation is insignificant. Agreeableness has more positive correlation with self-examination. However, Neuroticism has remarkable negative correlation with self-examination. In the variables of instrumental practising behavior, practice changes, practice plans, warm-up tasks, self-examination and practising attitudes have close relationship with Big Five Factors, while methods and self-inrtruction have remote relationship with Big Five factors.Thus,author infers that1)the instrumental players who have higher degree of Openness would practise with more changes;2)the instrumental players who have higher score of Conscientiousness may spend more time on warm-up tasks before their formal practices;3)players who have higher degree of Agreeableness may be followed by their instructors and musical notation;4)players who have higher score of Neuroticism would not like self-examination, they could be easily influenced by emotion and moods and they do not like to correct their mistakes. In addition, author indicates that instrumental players in conservatories will apply the same methods or procedures,which means the choices of methods have insignificant relations with Big Five Factors.