A Pilot Study of Piano Practice by Students in a Nursery School, Kindergarten and Elementary School Teacher-training Program

Abstract

To develop the piano practice methods in nursery school, kindergarten and elementary school teacher training, students’ attitude towards and the conditions of piano practice were examined and analyzed. The results of a questionnaire for students who took piano classes, piano beginners gave high priority to piano practice in their student life and had feelings of accomplishment that were higher than the experienced piano students, although they had a strong sense of inadequacy about their piano playing, and had trouble with reading music scores and moving their fingers and hands. In open-ended questions about students’ attitude to practice and their practice methods, it was noted that piano beginners did not have concrete practice strategies. On the other hand, higher-level students knew the targets to practice for, and they intensively practiced these points. There is a need for practice strategies for piano beginners.