ABSTRACT
Self-efficacy is the belief one has in their own capabilities to accomplish a given task (Bandura, 1977). Research suggests that students who are higher in self-efficacy tend to work harder to complete tasks, use more cognitive skills in problem solving, and persevere longer in the face of adversity (Bandura, 1977). These are all ideal behaviors for music making, a complex task that requires dedicated practice. The formation of such efficacy requires engagement in positive experiences (and the limiting of negative experiences) from four sources: mastery experiences (successful completion of tasks), vicarious experiences (observations of successful task completion by peers or mentors), verbal persuasion (positive feedback and other encouragement), and physiological and affective states (physical manifestations of stress, anxiety, or feelings of vulnerability).
