Higher education institutions can improve learning by adopting feedback and reflection practices common in music education, according to The Hindu.
The Hindu reported that music education often involves a practice-room approach where students repeatedly attempt a phrase, receiving immediate feedback from a teacher who identifies and names errors. This contrasts with traditional higher education feedback, which often arrives late and doesn’t allow for adjustments.
In the Carnatic music tradition, students repeat phrases repeatedly while receiving corrections, a process intended to help them internalize self-assessment and improve. The Hindu noted that this method trains students to notice, adjust, and improve from within.
While a one-on-one guru-shishya model isn’t scalable for large lecture halls, The Hindu suggests that universities can create similar conditions through low-stakes assignments, revision cycles, and peer critique. Learning science supports this approach, highlighting the effectiveness of retrieval practice and formative feedback.
The Hindu also emphasized the importance of pauses and reflection in learning, which are often lacking in compressed university semesters. By designing courses as practice rooms and creating safe spaces for mistakes, institutions can foster more effective learning and enable students to achieve more than they thought possible. The Hindu stated that music education has long understood these principles.
For more information, visit thehindu.com.