Psychological Needs and Social -Cognitive Influences on Participation in Music Activities

Abstract

The study exposed a broad range of beliefs, values, attitudes, and behaviors among the respondents over a ten-year period. The main findings highlight the importance of early experiences in shaping beliefs and values that influence participation in music activities. The evidence suggests that individuals who experienced feelings of satisfying psychological needs for competence, relatedness, and autonomy valued music as important, useful, interesting, and enjoyable, and held greater beliefs in the benefits of music and music learning. At the time participants ceased engagement in music activities, they had fewer feelings of competence, relatedness, and autonomy. The findings expand on several areas of music education research on beliefs, values, and behaviors, and explain influential aspects of motivation for participating in music activities.