2009 Volume 39 Issue 1 Pages 13-24
The purpose of this research is to investigate key factors which characterize expertise in band instruction, by analyzing the manner in which five band instructors with careers of varying lengths diagnose and instruct musical performance, and the underlying beliefs about musical instruction held by these instructors. The four comparatively inexperienced instructors tended to emphasize precise performance, while the most experienced instructor emphasized performers' comprehension of a piece and tried to nurture their self-motivation and enthusiasm to express their understanding musically. In rehearsal, the less experienced instructors tended to use mainly verbal instruction, while the more experienced instructors used relatively less verbal instruction, favoring other methods including modeling, theoretical explanation, metaphor and questions.
