Purpose of the study. The purpose of this study was to determine if teacher feedback to sung tonal patterns affected the music self-concept of sixth and seventh grade students. General self-esteem was also tested for correlation with music self-concept. Procedures. One hundred students in sixth and seventh grades from three middle schools in Columbia, Missouri participated in this study. Each student completed the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory and the Self-Concept in Music scale in a large group setting. These two scores for each student were used to place students in one of four subgroups: high general self-esteem/high music self-concept, high general self-esteem/low music self-concept, low general self-esteem/high music self-concept, and low general self-esteem/low music self-concept. The students were then randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups (no feedback, appropriate feedback, positive feedback). The students, in a private session, attempted to echo-sing seven tonal patterns. The researcher responded to each attempt according to the assigned treatment and recorded the singing performance scores. Each student then completed the Self-Concept in Music scale once again. Results. No significant main effects or interactions were found. A low positive significant correlation (r =.37) was found between the scores for sung tonal memory and the posttest scores for music self-concept. A low positive significant correlation (r =.28) was also found between the scores for the music self-concept pretest and the scores for general self-esteem. Conclusions. Results of this study validate that students are able to determine their own perception of ability in music, that this perception is stable after a short-term intervention, and that this perception significantly relates to their general self-esteem.

Praise for How Learning Works "How Learning Works is the perfect title for this excellent book. Drawing upon new research in psychology, education, and cognitive science, the authors have demystified a complex topic into clear explanations of seven powerful learning principles. Full of great ideas and practical suggestions, all based on solid research evidence, this book is essential reading for instructors at all levels who wish to improve their students' learning." —Barbara Gross Davis, assistant vice chancellor for educational development, University of California, Berkeley, and author, Tools for Teaching "This book is a must-read for every instructor, new or experienced. Although I have been teaching for almost thirty years, as I read this book I found myself resonating with many of its ideas, and I discovered new ways of thinking about teaching." —Eugenia T. Paulus, professor of chemistry, North Hennepin Community College, and 2008 U.S. Community Colleges Professor of the Year from The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education "Thank you Carnegie Mellon for making accessible what has previously been inaccessible to those of us who are not learning scientists. Your focus on the essence of learning combined with concrete examples of the daily challenges of teaching and clear tactical strategies for faculty to consider is a welcome work. I will recommend this book to all my colleagues." —Catherine M. Casserly, senior partner, The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching "As you read about each of the seven basic learning principles in this book, you will find advice that is grounded in learning theory, based on research evidence, relevant to college teaching, and easy to understand. The authors have extensive knowledge and experience in applying the science of learning to college teaching, and they graciously share it with you in this organized and readable book." —From the Foreword by Richard E. Mayer, professor of psychology, University of California, Santa Barbara; coauthor, e-Learning and the Science of Instruction; and author, Multimedia Learning