Adapting to Change: Investigating the Influence of Distance Learning on Performance in Italian Conservatories

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the sudden switch from face-to-face learning to distance learning generated many critical issues in music institutes. Specifically, conservatories found themselves using a didactic methodology that had never been considered before to ensure the continuation of students’ education. In particular, the adoption of distance learning has had a greater impact on those classes characterized by a significant practical–experiential component. This study aims to investigate the phenomenon of distance learning in Italian conservatories to explore how this experience affects students’ performance through their satisfaction with distance learning. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 328 students of 41 Italian conservatories, using an online self-report questionnaire to investigate conservatory students’ experience of distance learning and its impact on performance. To test the hypotheses, a mediation model was tested using SPSS version 26. The results show that the positive experience of distance learning has a positive impact on perceived performance and that satisfaction with distance learning, as a mediator role, further reinforces this relationship. This study is the first known one to explore the relationship between the experience of distance learning and student performance in the context of conservatories and music teaching.