Discrimination of Modulated Beat Tempo by Professional Musicians

Abstract

Thirty professional musicians were presented with 12 stimulus examples consisting of beats produced on a metronome. Initial beat tempo rate (60, 90, 120, and 150 beats per minute) and tempo modulation direction (Decrease, Increase, and Same) comprised the independent variables. Two dependent variables, number of correct responses on modulation directions and time required to discriminate a tempo change, measured the effect of tempo rate and modulation. Subjects correctly identified significantly more Decrease and Increase examples than Same examples ( F = 8.92; df = 2,58; p < .01). More Decrease examples were correctly identified than Increase examples; however, that difference was not significant. Decrease examples were identified in significantly less time than Increase examples ( F = 24.09; df = 1,29; p < .01). Time differences attributable to tempo rates and interactions were not significant. A replication of this experiment by Randall S. Moore using high school music students as subjects yielded markedly similar results.