I'm looking for help in researching preferences in playing music
oneself, and secondarily in listening to music, and how these
correlate with personality variables.  I especially want to find a
self-report measure for distinguishing personal attitudes and
preferences with regard to playing music.  Help?

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Request for Question Clarification by majortom-ga on 28 Feb 2004 10:28 PST

Hello Mortcola,

I have been looking into this for you.  There is recent research on
the subject of listening to music and personality variables. There are
also music & personality assessments available online.  I have also
been able to find studies peripherally related to playing music and
personality (such as instrument choice and gender, music and cognitive
skills, etc.) but I have not found anything that exactly matches
playing music and personality variables.  I can post my findings if
they would be satisfactory.

Let me kow,

Majortom

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Clarification of Question by mortcola-ga on 28 Feb 2004 14:50 PST

Majortom - 
Thanks for your response.  I'd be happy to see what you have.  I'm
taking a pretty unusual, but, I think, necessary angle for looking at
music-making and psychology

Hello Mortcola,

The influence of personality traits on the music we listen to has been
the subject of a well-publicized recent study.  Researchers at the
University of Texas studied the connection between music preferences
and personality traits, and announced their findings last June.

?Analyses of the data have revealed a number of robust relationships
between personality and music preferences, and have allowed us to
identify some major patterns in music preferences. For example,
regardless of age or sex, there are certain personality
characteristics that are strongly associated with preferences for
certain styles of music. In addition, we have found that people who
prefer certain music genres (for example, country) are more likely to
prefer certain other styles of music (religious) over others
(heavy-metal).?

Their study found substantial correlation between personality traits
and the music choices people make.  They have two scales they have
used to measure this, a longer form called the Ten Item Personality
Measure (TIPI) and a short form called the Short Test of Music
Preferences (STOMP)

Website of the researchers
http://homepage.psy.utexas.edu/homepage/faculty/Gosling/music_and_music_preferences.htm
TIPI
http://homepage.psy.utexas.edu/homepage/faculty/Gosling/scales_we.htm#Ten%20Item%20Personality%20Measure%20(TIPI)

STOMP
http://homepage.psy.utexas.edu/homepage/faculty/Gosling/scales_we.htm#Short%20Test%20Of%20Music%20Preferences%20(STOMP)

Their article, ?The Do Re Mi?s of Everydary Life: The Structure and
Personality Correlates of Music Preferences?
http://homepage.psy.utexas.edu/homepage/faculty/Gosling/reprints/jpsp03musicdimensions.pdf

The test in a more easy-to-use format, though not from the author's official site:
http://www.outofservice.com/music-personality-test/

Research on playing one?s own music and personality is far scarcer. 
There is quite a bit of literature on music and development, cited in
Dr. Gosling?s article, but little that relates directly to personality
traits.

Researchers have found a connection between gender stereotypes and
musical instrument preference:

"Preferences and children's use of gender-stereotyped knowledge about
musical instruments: making judgments about other children's
preferences."
_Sex Roles: A Journal of Research,_ Oct, 2003, by A.C. Harrison, S.A. O'Neill

http://www.findarticles.com/cf_0/m2294/7-8_49/109355382/p1/article.jhtml

They have made a connection between inability to play music and an
inability of the brain to properly process music:
"Scanning a brain that's out of tune." 
_Science News,_ Nov 23, 2002
http://www.findarticles.com/cf_0/m1200/21_162/95107151/p1/article.jhtml

They have studied expressiveness and cognitive skills:
"What's new in pedagogy research?(Professional Resources)"
_American Music Teacher,_ Oct-Nov, 2003, by Rebecca Grooms Johnson

http://www.findarticles.com/cf_0/m2493/2_53/108694415/p1/article.jhtml

There are a number of similar articles cited in "Do Re Mi," but
nothing directly related to playing music and personality.

I hope this answers your question.  If you would like me to delve more
deeply into any of these topics, please let me know by requesting
clarification before rating this answer.

Regards, Majortom

__________________

Google Search Terms:
Music Personality Research Study
Playing Music Development Research Study

FindArticles Search Terms:
Playing Music Personality
Playing Music Personality Research

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Request for Answer Clarification by mortcola-ga on 04 Mar 2004 10:41 PST

Thanks for your reply and the effort you put into it.  However, after
looking things over, I'm pretty sure I need to look at
player-personality variables, and the psych theories/measures
pertaining to them.  Can you think of anything else?

Thanks again - 

Dan

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Clarification of Answer by majortom-ga on 08 Mar 2004 07:41 PST

Hello Again,

I took a look through the citations in the Do Re Mi article and turned
up a few more resources that may prove useful.


A textbook you might see if you can check out:

http://books.elsevier.com/us//apcatalog/us/subindex.asp?maintarget=&isbn=0122135652&country=United+States&srccode=&ref=&subcode=&head=&pdf=&basiccode=&txtSearch=&SearchField=&operator=&order=&community=apcatalog
_The Psychology of Music_
Book by Diana Deutsch on music and psychology.  1999 Edition available.


You also might try the Journal _Music Perception_
Available online through Caliber, at UC Press:
http://caliber.ucpress.net/

I did a quick search and couldn't find anything directly relevant to
your topic, but you may have more luck since you know more about the
particulars of what you are looking for.

Both of these are a bit more extensive than individual articles, you
may be able to find some useful citations in them even if they don't
directly have what you're looking for.  I'm sorry these are a bit
general, as I've said it's slim pickings on your topic.

Please let me know if you need anything else,

Majortom

Hello, mortcola-ga, 

I am on vacation this week and have only limited Internet access. I
will respond to your request properly as soon as I return at the end
of next week. Thank you!