Application of sport psychology to music performance: A study based on a review of sport psychology literature and selected interviews with professional musicians.

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Sport psychology is a booming field. Specialists in all areas of sports are now aware that mental preparation of athletes is as important as physical preparation because what makes the difference between two equally skilled athletes in a competition is his or her mental readiness to perform. The principles of sport psychology translate very well to the field of music performance because the highly competitive field of music performance involves a similar pressure to perform well at a given time when the pressure is on. Playing a musical instrument or singing also demands a high degree of muscular control and coordination that can either be facilitated or inhibited by the musician's mental disposition. This study takes advantage of the extensive research and rapid advancement of sport psychology by applying its concepts to music performance.
After surveying the major sport psychology literature, the author formulated a set of interview questions. Six performing musicians from different areas of music performance, different cultural backgrounds, and different career stages were interviewed. The sample of musicians included an orchestra musician, a singer, a collaborative pianist and a conductor. They also represented the United States, France, Puerto Rico and Quebec.
In this paper the author describes the main principles of sport psychology: goal setting, pre-event routines, visualization, focus, arousal regulation (energy levels), and optimal performance. Then, based on the interviews, the author applies these principles to music performance. The interviews allow the author to explore the extent to which selected professional musicians apply sport psychology principles. It also helps to determine how the concepts can be adapted to best serve musicians and can be use as a basis for further studies.
The document is organized into seven chapters: (I) Introduction; (II) Structure of the Preparation---for a competition or a performance---(topics covered: Goal Setting, Organization of the Practice Sessions and Pre-Event Routine); (III) Tools for Enhancement (this includes all the different types of imagery or visualization); (IV) Interference; (V) Psychological Skills leading to Optimal Performance (topics covered: Energy Level Regulation and Focus); (VI) Optimal Performance (includes the concept: "being in the zone"); and (VII) Conclusion.