Passion, Practice, and Profession: Exploring How Motivation Shapes Music Engagement and Career Aspirations of Chinese Classically-trained Piano Majors

Abstract

Piano learning motivation is positioned as an important determinant of student’s success in music education, influencing both quality of practice and future career aspirations. Different types of motivation impact students’ practice behaviour, yet the relationship between motivation, the quality and engagement of practice, and career aspiration remains underexplored in the literature. This study examined the correlations between various motivational regulations, music engagement, and students’ career aspirations, while also providing an in-depth exploration of what contributes undergraduate piano majors to practice and how they perceive a future in music. Adopting a mixed-methods approach, this study investigated motivation regulation in relation to piano practice engagement and career intentions, particularly through students’ experiences and perceptions of their music study. The present study was conducted in public universities and conservatories in mainland China, the research involved 160 classically-trained undergraduate piano majors who completed a self-reported survey, with 27 of them participated in follow-up semi-structured interviews. Quantitative findings revealed a strong positive relationship between autonomous motivation and both piano practice engagement and future career commitment. Interview data further highlighted the significance of different motivational factors in shaping students’ learning experiences and willingness to pursue a music career after graduation. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the role of motivation in undergraduate piano education, extending existing literature on music learning and career decision-making. The study also provides practical implications for piano instructors, emphasizing the need to foster a more autonomy-supportive learning environment to enhance students' engagement, motivation, and long-term musical development.