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The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of field dependence! independence and gender upon technical accuracy and musicality of student instrumental performance under both structured and free practice conditions. Field-dependence/independence was assessed by the Group Embedded Figures Test. Fifity-five brass and woodwind students between grades 7 and 10 were assigned to either a free practice group or a structured practice group. Subjects had four short practice sessions distributed across two weeks. Performances were evaluated by three independent judges. ANCOVA tests revealed significant main effects for practice condition for all dependent variables. Two significant interactions were observed for rhythmic accuracy: Practice Condition x Gender and Practice Condition x Gender x Field Dependence/Independence. The data indicate that the practice procedures used by the structured practice group were more conducive to improvement in musical performance. These findings are consistent with the literaturc, suggesting that a highly organised and systematic regimen of supervised practice is an effective means of improving musical performance.
Nancy H. Barry (Thu,) studied this question.