The Roles of Attentional Flexibility and Pitch Imagery in Error Detection and Melodic Dictation

The ability to detect errors in performance is an important skill for musicians of all types. Previous research has indicated that tonal working memory capacity may play a role in musical error detection. Here we further tested the role of memory and attention in the error detection performance of college musicians. Participants (N = 39) from a pool of undergraduate music majors completed a test of error detection, pitch imagery (Pitch Imagery Arrow Task), and attentional flexibility (Trail Making Test) as well as a background questionnaire exploring past musical experience and training. Performance on a multi-part error detection test was not significantly related to year in school, level of aural skills class, or years of private piano. Years of experience on a second instrument and pitch imagery performance were significant predictors of melodic error detection skill, which was not correlated to our measure of attentional flexibility. We related these results to previous research suggesting the additive role of secondary instrument experience and to previous research indicating experience, not age, is a contributing factor to musical performance skills.