Stephanie L. R. MacArthur, Jane W. Davidson, Amanda E. Krause
{"title":"Children’s Initial Interest in Learning the Cello: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis","authors":"Stephanie L. R. MacArthur, Jane W. Davidson, Amanda E. Krause","doi":"10.1177/03057356261471783","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/03057356261471783","url":null,"abstract":"Understanding why children want to learn a musical instrument and the meanings they make from their initial interest can inform pedagogical approaches that enhance music education programmes and support sustained student learning. Research has focused on musicians’ motivations, with less attention given to children’s perspectives during early learning. This study applied Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis and Participatory Action Research, a combination of methodologies rarely used in music education research, to investigate the initial interests of 14 seven-year-old beginner cellists. As lessons commenced, the children and their mothers participated in individual semi-structured interviews. Analysis revealed rich and novel idiographic insights into the development of children’s musical motivation. Thematic findings indicated that children were primed for learning through prior musical enjoyment, exposure to stringed instrument classes, and a newfound affinity for the cello. Intrapersonal factors included four key motivations: a desire to be creative or musical, the pursuit of a hobby, curiosity about learning, and mood regulation. Interpersonal influences encompassed children’s desires to connect with family members, form peer friendships, including through orchestra participation, and build a relationship with the teacher-researcher. Each child had a unique configuration of motives, suggesting the value of personalised pedagogy in the earliest stages of learning.","PeriodicalId":47977,"journal":{"name":"Psychology of Music","volume":"19 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148768356","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A Grounded Meta-Analysis of Research on Marginalized Music Teachers","authors":"Carlos R. Abril, Giulia Ripani","doi":"10.1177/03057356261460878","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/03057356261460878","url":null,"abstract":"Over the past 15 years, researchers have examined marginalized music teachers’ perspectives, largely through small-scale qualitative studies. Recognizing the individual merit and collective potential of this body of work, we synthesized existing studies into a cohesive theory to explain how marginalized music teachers navigate their professional lives. Three research questions guided our inquiry: (1) What factors shape the professional lives of marginalized music teachers? (2) What strategies do they use to navigate their professional identities? (3) What are the perceived psychological and behavioral outcomes associated with marginalization? Through qualitative meta-analysis, five extrinsic factors (sociocultural influences, administrators, colleagues, students and parents, and personal relationships) and one intrinsic factor (internalized concerns) emerged as central influences. Participants managed their professional identities using two primary strategies: social recategorization (concealing or downplaying their identity) and positive distinctiveness (disclosing or affirming their identity). These strategies were associated with a range of perceived psychological and behavioral outcomes, including distress, professional withdrawal, affirmation, and advocacy. The resulting middle-range theory conceptualizes identity management as a dynamic, context-dependent process associated with sociocultural, relational, and internal factors.","PeriodicalId":47977,"journal":{"name":"Psychology of Music","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148709574","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"What Music Do People Use for Mood Regulation?","authors":"Catherine Tan, Peter M. C. Harrison","doi":"10.1177/03057356261469388","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/03057356261469388","url":null,"abstract":"This study seeks to understand what music is used for music mood regulation (MMR). We question how audio features can characterise the music used for different MMR strategies and explore how participant background variables (musical sophistication, sensitivity to musical reward, empathy, and well-being) might predict the use of these strategies, and hence the kinds of music adopted for MMR. Participants ( <jats:italic toggle=\"yes\">N</jats:italic> = 229) completed an online survey that produced a dataset composed of 5,334 tracks for MMR, their Spotify audio feature measures, and scores for the participant background variables. Principal component analyses revealed that energetic and positive music was preferred for strategies that regulated positive moods or modulated arousal, whereas instrumental music was preferred for the Strong Sensation strategy and those requiring cognitive responses. Regarding individual differences, we identify various correlations between participant background variables and amount of MMR strategy usage; exploratory analyses additionally suggest that musical sophistication, empathy, and well-being also predict the kind of music that is used for particular strategies. We discuss the potential implications of our research for advancing theories on musical emotions and the development of well-being tools.","PeriodicalId":47977,"journal":{"name":"Psychology of Music","volume":"44 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148709578","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Hermione H. Liu, Suzy E. Miller, Mark A. Lee, Nicholas Matherne, Damien J. Miller, Emma D’Aprano
{"title":"Using Generative Artificial Intelligence to Identify Themes of Basic Psychological Needs in Popular Song Lyrics","authors":"Hermione H. Liu, Suzy E. Miller, Mark A. Lee, Nicholas Matherne, Damien J. Miller, Emma D’Aprano","doi":"10.1177/03057356261465628","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/03057356261465628","url":null,"abstract":"Music listening is a universal human behaviour, increasingly recognised for its association with well-being. The mechanisms underlying how music listening influences well-being remain unclear, especially in terms of broader motivational processes. Utilising a self-determination theory (SDT) framework, we examined the extent to which popular song lyrics represented themes of basic psychological needs (BPN). Our corpus comprised the top 10 songs of the Australian Recording Industry Association’s top 100 singles chart for the period 1988–2023, resulting in 360 unique songs. Lyrics were analysed through deductive content analysis using a researcher-created application, <jats:italic toggle=\"yes\">MuseAI</jats:italic> , which employs large language model platforms using custom media input. Our findings indicated the representation of all three BPNs across the pop song lyric corpus. Relatedness themes occurred at the highest frequency, followed by autonomy and competence, respectively. Need satisfaction occurred more frequently than need frustration. As these songs were those most listened to by audiences across more than three decades, our findings suggest that song lyrics frequently represent themes of BPN, which may help explain the motivational appeal of music listening. This exploratory research provides initial theoretical support for further investigation of music listening engagement utilising an SDT framework.","PeriodicalId":47977,"journal":{"name":"Psychology of Music","volume":"15 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148709611","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Experiencing motherhood as a professional musician: Issues of musical identity","authors":"Maria Papazachariou-Christoforou, Maria Tympa","doi":"10.1177/03057356261471415","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/03057356261471415","url":null,"abstract":"Recognizing that musical identities mediate how individuals and groups engage with and through music, this case study explored a professional mother-musician’s experience of musical parenting with her infant and the perception of her musical identity in this context. Data collection spanned 4 months and included semistructured interviews with the mother, informal discussions via a mother–researcher networking platform, digital diaries, and videos provided by the mother. Previous studies have identified the significance of infant–mother musical interaction for the care and development of the infant as well as for enhancing attachment and bonding between them. However, very few studies have focused on how this interaction impacts the musical identity of the mother. The findings of this study suggest that the mother incorporated a variety of musical activities into her infant’s care, and she perceived musical parenting as a fruitful context for negotiating and strengthening her own musical identity. The study’s findings suggest the need for further research into the issue of musical identity among professional musician parents within the context of musical parenting.","PeriodicalId":47977,"journal":{"name":"Psychology of Music","volume":"66 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148709575","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Performer Identity, Agency, and Programming Lesser-Known Piano Repertoire","authors":"Ning Hui See","doi":"10.1177/03057356261469834","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/03057356261469834","url":null,"abstract":"The diversification of concert repertoire has garnered increased attention recently, yet research on modern concert programming remains limited, focusing mainly on quotas and the perspectives of organisers and audiences. Discourses on the contextualisation and evaluation of women composers’ music have not transcended questions raised since the 1990s, and historical patterns demonstrate that change is not linear. Given the role of performers as co-creators of musical meaning and value, we need a better understanding of their practices to achieve sustainable change. This study examines the interrelation between the performer’s sense of identity and agency and their selection and programming of music by composers who are lesser-known due to stylistic unfamiliarity or their gender, race, or other demographic characteristics. Using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA), I examined interview accounts of four professional pianists experienced in performing such repertoire. Six group experiential themes emerged: career and professional identity; aesthetic, emotions, or sociopolitical connections; interpretative strategies and commitment; contextualising lesser-known repertoire as accessible or valuable; programming agency in relation to organisers, venues, and audiences; and belonging and outsiderness. These findings bear implications for effective programming practices and conservatoire pedagogical transformations.","PeriodicalId":47977,"journal":{"name":"Psychology of Music","volume":"30 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148698802","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Diana Laura Pérez-Ortiz, Juan A. García, María Amérigo, Joel Martínez-Soto
{"title":"Evaluation of Residential Satisfaction in Mexico: Creation and Validation of a Measure Instrument / Evaluación de la satisfacción residencial en México: creación y validación de un instrumento de medida","authors":"Diana Laura Pérez-Ortiz, Juan A. García, María Amérigo, Joel Martínez-Soto","doi":"10.1177/21711976261463723","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/21711976261463723","url":null,"abstract":"Accurately measuring residential satisfaction is important when it comes to guiding architectural design strategies that improve people’s quality of life in line with their needs. The aim of this study was to create and validate a specific instrument to measure residential satisfaction in a Mexican context. The study began with a qualitative assessment of residential satisfaction across three categories – home, neighbourhood and neighbours – using the natural semantic networks technique on a sample of 90 people from the general population. Based on these assessments, a 19-item Likert-type scale was designed. The construct validity of this scale was analysed using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis with samples from the general population ( <jats:italic toggle=\"yes\">N</jats:italic> = 201 and <jats:italic toggle=\"yes\">N</jats:italic> = 412, respectively). The results revealed two factors explaining 63.55% of the total variance: ‘satisfaction with the home’ (McDonald’s omega coefficient = .88) and ‘satisfaction with the neighbourhood unit’ (McDonald’s omega coefficient = .92). The scale demonstrated good psychometric properties for measuring residential satisfaction in the context studied.","PeriodicalId":47977,"journal":{"name":"Psychology of Music","volume":"360 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148693512","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Panagiotis Painesis, Maribella Vogopoulou, Maria Pothoulaki
{"title":"Emotion Regulation Through Self-Chosen Music: A Qualitative Study With Young Adults","authors":"Panagiotis Painesis, Maribella Vogopoulou, Maria Pothoulaki","doi":"10.1177/03057356261465614","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/03057356261465614","url":null,"abstract":"The emotional implications of music have attracted the interest of many psychology researchers in the past few decades. The current study investigated how self-chosen music facilitated emotion regulation strategies in young adults from Greece during intense emotional periods. The sample of the study involved 12 Greek students, ranging from 18 to 28 years of age. Semi-structured interviews were used for data collection, and interpretive phenomenological analysis was applied for the analysis of data. Findings suggest that the perceived manageability of an emotion plays a key role in determining the regulation strategy employed. When experiencing manageable emotions, participants remain connected to their inner feelings, using strategies such as mindful attending, music as a substitute for human presence and catharsis. In contrast, when facing unmanageable emotions, they avoid emotional confrontation, using music to suppress distressing emotions or opting not to listen to music at all. Future studies can expand on this research topic and further add to our findings.","PeriodicalId":47977,"journal":{"name":"Psychology of Music","volume":"35 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148650613","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Intentional Mental Imagery and Music Performance Anxiety","authors":"Katherine K Finch, Jonathan M Oakman","doi":"10.1177/03057356261449273","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/03057356261449273","url":null,"abstract":"Intentional mental imagery is an important preparation strategy for performers and can be used for different purposes. Applied imagery models suggest that a single imagery approach can be used for different functions (e.g., affect regulation and performance enhancement). However, little is known about how musicians employ mental imagery to manage music performance anxiety (MPA) and whether musicians experience difficulty controlling imagery (e.g., maintaining imagery) used to manage MPA. Thus, we investigated how musicians use mental imagery for this purpose and whether they experience difficulty controlling such imagery. Musicians ( <jats:italic toggle=\"yes\">N</jats:italic> = 25) completed a semi-structured interview and Likert-style rating scales concerning their experiences with intentional mental imagery used to manage MPA. Thematic analysis revealed that musicians in our sample engaged in a variety of imagery approaches (e.g., mental rehearsal) to manage MPA, integrating different sensory content. Themes were identified concerning difficulties participants experienced in controlling mental imagery. Musicians in our sample used a variety of imagery approaches to manage MPA, many of which are consistent with existing intervention literature and applied imagery models. Furthermore, many musicians in our sample experienced difficulty controlling intentional imagery which raises important questions for additional research.","PeriodicalId":47977,"journal":{"name":"Psychology of Music","volume":"354 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148612515","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Role of Past Experience With Listening to Classical Music in Liking Sophisticated Music","authors":"Valnea Žauhar, Igor Bajšanski, Sabina Vidulin","doi":"10.1177/03057356261462944","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/03057356261462944","url":null,"abstract":"The aim of the study was to examine the validity of the Past Experience with Listening to Classical Music Scale (PastELCMS) developed for adolescents and children, and to explore its role in preference for sophisticated music. In Study 1, participants were 151 students from a general education school who rated their liking for six excerpts of sophisticated music and completed questionnaires about previous experience with listening to classical music and other music-related tendencies and behaviours. Study 2 involved 286 pupils attending a primary music school. They reported their liking for an excerpt of classical music and completed questionnaires on the emotions evoked by the music while listening to the excerpt and on previous experience with listening to classical music. PastELCMS correlated positively with preference for sophisticated music, cognitive and emotional music listening, and music consumption in Study 1, as well as with liking for a classical music excerpt and music-evoked activation while listening to the excerpt in Study 2. Past experience with listening to classical music also positively predicted liking sophisticated music. Previous experience should be investigated to understand preferences for sophisticated music. PastELCMS is a valid and reliable measure that can be used with adolescents and children.","PeriodicalId":47977,"journal":{"name":"Psychology of Music","volume":"22 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148538887","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}