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Application of visual information in music education digital technologies : a scoping review

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Abstract
The relationship between sound and visual representation has long intrigued artists and educators, with historical explorations ranging from colour–music correspondence to alternative notations and graphic visualisations of music. Recent advances in digital technologies have significantly expanded the pedagogical potential of visual information in music education. However, there is still no comprehensive review mapping how visual information is applied in digital music education tools. This scoping review maps the application of visual modalities in original digital tools for music teaching and learning, drawing on 63 studies published between 2014 and 2024. Following Arksey and O’Malley’s five-stage framework and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) reporting guidelines, this review analyses the methodological characteristics, pedagogical foundations, and design features of these tools. Findings reveal a dominant focus on performance skills and individual learning, often supported by visual feedback and interactivity. However, other aspects of learning such as creativity, responsiveness, and collaboration remain underexplored. While references to concepts such as multimodality and embodied learning are common, a robust theoretical grounding is frequently lacking or implicit. This review calls for a shift from technology-driven innovation toward pedagogy-led design, advocating for a more holistic educational approach and more rigorous empirical research. Implications highlight the potential of visual information not only to support performance skill acquisition but also to foster creative, expressive, and collaborative dimensions of music learning.
Keywords
music education, visual information, visualisation, educational technology, scoping review

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MLA
Behzadaval, Bahareh, et al. “Application of Visual Information in Music Education Digital Technologies : A Scoping Review.” EDUCATION SCIENCES, vol. 16, no. 2, 2026, doi:10.3390/educsci16020309.
APA
Behzadaval, B., Serra Marin, L., & Nijs, L. (2026). Application of visual information in music education digital technologies : a scoping review. EDUCATION SCIENCES, 16(2). https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci16020309
Chicago author-date
Behzadaval, Bahareh, Laura Serra Marin, and Luc Nijs. 2026. “Application of Visual Information in Music Education Digital Technologies : A Scoping Review.” EDUCATION SCIENCES 16 (2). https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci16020309.
Chicago author-date (all authors)
Behzadaval, Bahareh, Laura Serra Marin, and Luc Nijs. 2026. “Application of Visual Information in Music Education Digital Technologies : A Scoping Review.” EDUCATION SCIENCES 16 (2). doi:10.3390/educsci16020309.
Vancouver
1.
Behzadaval B, Serra Marin L, Nijs L. Application of visual information in music education digital technologies : a scoping review. EDUCATION SCIENCES. 2026;16(2).
IEEE
[1]
B. Behzadaval, L. Serra Marin, and L. Nijs, “Application of visual information in music education digital technologies : a scoping review,” EDUCATION SCIENCES, vol. 16, no. 2, 2026.
@article{01KMSTFRZTZ3XZNEN0ZRY3KXAN,
  abstract     = {{The relationship between sound and visual representation has long intrigued artists and educators, with historical explorations ranging from colour–music correspondence to alternative notations and graphic visualisations of music. Recent advances in digital technologies have significantly expanded the pedagogical potential of visual information in music education. However, there is still no comprehensive review mapping how visual information is applied in digital music education tools. This scoping review maps the application of visual modalities in original digital tools for music teaching and learning, drawing on 63 studies published between 2014 and 2024. Following Arksey and O’Malley’s five-stage framework and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) reporting guidelines, this review analyses the methodological characteristics, pedagogical foundations, and design features of these tools. Findings reveal a dominant focus on performance skills and individual learning, often supported by visual feedback and interactivity. However, other aspects of learning such as creativity, responsiveness, and collaboration remain underexplored. While references to concepts such as multimodality and embodied learning are common, a robust theoretical grounding is frequently lacking or implicit. This review calls for a shift from technology-driven innovation toward pedagogy-led design, advocating for a more holistic educational approach and more rigorous empirical research. Implications highlight the potential of visual information not only to support performance skill acquisition but also to foster creative, expressive, and collaborative dimensions of music learning.}},
  articleno    = {{309}},
  author       = {{Behzadaval, Bahareh and Serra Marin, Laura and Nijs, Luc}},
  issn         = {{2227-7102}},
  journal      = {{EDUCATION SCIENCES}},
  keywords     = {{music education,visual information,visualisation,educational technology,scoping review}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{32}},
  title        = {{Application of visual information in music education digital technologies : a scoping review}},
  url          = {{http://doi.org/10.3390/educsci16020309}},
  volume       = {{16}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}

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