This research examines self-efficacy for musical learning, self-efficacy for musical performing, and intention to pursue a career as a musician or music teacher and investigate how these three factors influence on career maturity of master's degree st...
This research examines self-efficacy for musical learning, self-efficacy for musical performing, and intention to pursue a career as a musician or music teacher and investigate how these three factors influence on career maturity of master's degree students who majored in music or music education. Also, the differences in these three factors between music and music education major students were investigated by t-test. A total of 129 music(n=53) and music education(n=76) students completed a online survey. The measures of self-efficacy for musical learning and performing are from Ritchie & Williamon(2010). And the measure of career maturity is from Lee & Han(1997) who explained career maturity with five sub-factors: decisiveness, aim, certainty, preparedness, and independency.
As a result of analysis by SPSS Statistics 29.0, several points imply certain results and implications. First, there is no statistically significant difference in self-efficacy for musical learning and performing between music and music education major students.
Second, there is no statistically significant difference in career maturity between music and music education students. But there is a significant difference in independency, where music education students’ is lower than music students.
The statistically significant difference in independency suggests that students have different attitudes toward their careers depending on the major they select. Music education major students are more likely to exhibit a tendency to be influenced by their parents and circumstance. In terms of field-dependence-independence, individuals who are field-dependent may face difficulties in articulating their vocational interests(Witkin, 1973), The comparatively lower score in independency among music education students could have an impact on their satisfaction as music teachers. Therefore, it is important for music education major students to strengthen their independency.
In addition, among career maturity sub-factors, music major students scored the lowest in convincing, while music education major students scored the lowest in aim. The lowest score in convincing among music major students suggests that, despite being enrolled in master's degree courses, they lack a certain belief in their potential success as professional musicians. And the lowest score in aim among music education major students suggest that, even though they have made a firm decision to become music teacher, it implies that they are not clear about what they aim to achieve through the profession.
Third, self-efficacy for musical learning have a positive effect on career maturity, especially preparedness and independency. Self-efficacy for musical performing have a positive effect on career maturity, especially convincing. These results indicate that lower score in independency among music education major students can be improved through self-efficacy for musical learning. Furthermore, enhancing self-efficacy for musical performing can help improve the lowest score in convincing among music major students. It is important to enhance self-efficacy for musical performing as the lack of it can be lead to stage anxiety(Ritchie & Williamon, 2010).
Fifth, intention to pursue a career as a musician or music teacher does not directly impact overall career maturity score, but rather specific sub-factors. Intention to pursue a musician have impact on aim, independency, while intention to pursue a music teacher have impact on decisiveness. these results indicate that individuals with a higher intention to pursue a career as a musician demonstrate a clearer and more independent pursuit of specific aspects such as self-development and interpersonal relationships through their profession. Similarly, those with a stronger intention to become music teachers exhibit a firm determination and resolve to pursue a career as a music teacher.
In conclusion, in order to enhance career maturity, it is important to strengthen self-efficacy for musical performing and learning. Specifically, music major students should focus on enhancing self-efficacy for musical performing, particularly in terms of convincing, while music education students should focus on enhancing self-efficacy for musical learning in terms of independency.