title: Biographic and behavioral factors are associated with music-related motor skills in children pianists.
abstract: This study aimed to identify biographical and behavioral factors associated with children pianists' motor skills using an objective assessment of a music-relevant motor task. Motor skills at the piano were assessed in 30 children pianists by measuring temporal unevenness in standardized scale playing using musical instrument digital interface (MIDI)-based scale analysis. Questionnaires were used to collect detailed information about the amount of time playing the piano, practice characteristics, attitudes toward music and practice, and the environment of music and practice. Associations between performance values and variables from the questionnaire were investigated using multivariable linear regression. A higher number of years playing the piano, more frequent parental involvement in the child's practice, more frequent practice of technical exercises, and greater enjoyment of practice and of the visual arts were associated with better motor performance. In addition to cumulative experience and aspects of practice, extrinsic motivational factors (e.g., parental interest) and intrinsic motivational factors (e.g., an artistic disposition) were associated with better performance on a musically-relevant motor task in children pianists.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, 4225 Roosevelt Way, Suite 100, Seattle, WA 98105, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Washington, 4225 Roosevelt Way, Suite 100, Seattle, WA 98105, USA. Electronic address: spectj@u.washington.edu.
authors.forename: June T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Spector
authors.affiliation: Institute of Music Physiology and Musicians' Medicine, Hannover University of Music, Drama and Media, Emmichplatz 1, 30175 Hannover, Germany. Electronic address: raymond@raymondyong.com.
authors.forename: Raymond
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yong
authors.affiliation: Institute of Music Physiology and Musicians' Medicine, Hannover University of Music, Drama and Media, Emmichplatz 1, 30175 Hannover, Germany. Electronic address: eckart.altenmueller@hmtm-hannover.de.
authors.forename: Eckart
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Altenmüller
authors.affiliation: Institute of Musicians' Medicine, University of Music Carl Maria von Weber, Leubnitzer Straße 17 b, 01069 Dresden, Germany. Electronic address: jabusch@hfmdd.de.
authors.forename: Hans-Christian
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Jabusch
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001519:Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers; D006225:Hand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology*; D009068:Movement; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009146:Music; D010290:Parents; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Children; Motor skills; Music performance; Piano; Practice; Sensorimotor learning