A Phenomenological Study on the Effects of Graded Performance Evaluations on the Longterm Musical Engagement of Students in Malaysia

This qualitative transcendental phenomenological study aimed to research the effects of graded examinations, such as the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) and Trinity, on the musical engagement of students who have taken private music lessons. Graded examinations are widely used in Malaysian private music studios, and most music teachers and students use the examinations as the primary source for music education. Participants shared their demographics, experience with graded examinations and private music lessons, and current musical engagement through an online questionnaire on Google Forms. Eight Malaysians who have taken private music lessons and graded examinations were recruited to participate in the study. The study incorporated purposive and convenience sampling. The study suggests that the stress of examinations may influence students to associate music with music performance anxiety, but examinations can also heighten music appreciation. Future research should examine the proposed benefits of examinations, experiences that inspire musicality and lifelong musical engagement, and the association between music lessons and examinations.