Audio Artefacts and Educational Dialogue in Online Instrumental Instruction

The teaching of musical instruments through distance learning has expanded rapidly across all levels of education, from informal courses to higher education programs. In this context, audio assumes a central role—whether in synchronous or asynchronous learning environments. While some studies have examined audio quality in online instrumental instruction, and others have investigated the artefacts inherent to audio coding in such transmissions, there remains a limited understanding of how audio influences the teaching and learning processes in these settings. This research aims to explore the use of audio in instrumental instruction within the Distance Learning Undergraduate Degree Program in Music Education at the University of Brasília (UnB), Brazil. Specifically, it will examine how audio quality and encoding artefacts affect both teaching and learning experiences. To this end, the study will employ critical-reflective activities with teachers and students, as well as semi-structured interviews involving participants from the program. The research will be grounded in Transactional Distance Theory, with particular emphasis on the variable of Educational Dialogue. It is expected that the findings will contribute meaningfully not only to the field of distance music education but also to digital audio research and broader discussions in music pedagogy.