The purpose of this study is to explore the psychological and environmental factors experienced by vocal entrance exam candidates in applied music programs during their preparation process and to analyze the impact of these factors on their musical ac...
The purpose of this study is to explore the psychological and environmental factors experienced by vocal entrance exam candidates in applied music programs during their preparation process and to analyze the impact of these factors on their musical achievements. This study aims to provide an in-depth understanding of the psychological difficulties that arise from the increased competition within applied music programs due to the recent popularity of popular music, and the internal motivation and support factors that emerge in the process of overcoming them. In doing so, it aims to explore pedagogical approaches that can help students develop into healthy and creative musicians and to suggest directions for the development of applied music education and teaching methods.
This study adopts a qualitative case study method. Data were collected from July to October 2024 through in-depth interviews with eight incoming students majoring in applied music and vocal performance. The interviews were conducted to understand the psychological experiences and difficulties that the students encountered, as well as the support system in overcoming them, and the collected data were coded and categorized to identify major themes. To ensure the authenticity and reliability of the study, triangulation, member checking, iterative review of the coding process, and expert validity were utilized.
The study found that the main challenges faced by applied music and vocal students during the admissions process included anxiety about not getting into college, performance anxiety, external evaluation pressure, and financial difficulties. The fear of failing to get into a university put a lot of psychological pressure on the students, which led to performance anxiety. In particular, anxiety and nervousness during practical exams had a negative impact on performance. These psychological difficulties, coupled with the fear of external evaluation and financial burdens, contributed to the students' constant stress. Under these circumstances, students sought support from those around them, including personalized guidance from teachers, emotional support from family members, and encouragement from friends. Their support played an important role in helping students continuously improve their learning environment and overcome psychological challenges.
In addition, the students maintained their internal motivation and continued to adjust their practice routines and reset their goals in an autonomous and creative way. In particular, students made spontaneous efforts to develop their own practice plans and adjust their strategies to achieve their goals, which demonstrated their autonomy and creativity. The study participants demonstrated a willingness control their learning environment, maintaining their passion for music and goals despite challenges. These autonomous efforts were critical factors contributing to their musical achievement and suggest that entrance-level education should move beyond test preparation to support students' artistic growth and creativity.
To this end, the following educational interventions are proposed. First, customized educational programs tailored to the individual characteristics and needs of students are essential. Establishing a structured educational environment that supports students' psychological stability and autonomous growth, along with psychological counseling and emotional support programs to alleviate psychological challenges, is crucial. Second, we should develop systematic training and professional development programs for vocal trainers and applied music educators to enhance the quality of applied music education. These programs would enable educators to provide high-quality instruction that incorporates the latest music trends and teaching methodologies. The findings of this study can serve as foundational data to enhance the practical relevance of vocal entrance exam education and to suggest educational improvements that support the artistic growth of students. Furthermore, these results are expected to contribute to the future development of applied music entrance exam guidance methods and vocal education systems.
Keywords: applied music, vocal college entrance exams, psychological factors, qualitative case study, in-depth interviews, educational improvement