Adina Mornell Knihy

Musicians tend to believe that the mystery of their art cannot be objectively studied, quantified, or explained. As a result, the term «motor learning» is rarely used in connection with musicians, and an empirical approach to musical performance is more the exception than the rule. Sports scientists, however, show a great interest in musicians because of their advanced skill level and the attentional and emotional demands of the concert stage. This work combines knowledge across disciplines. Advances toward an understanding of human behavior and cognition offer clues to strategies of motor learning and performance that promote the well-being of musicians and athletes. This book provides a forum for an interdisciplinary exchange of research, laying the groundwork for future projects.

Top performers are typically seen as those experts in their fields with the most confidence, highest powers of concentration, and best training methods. Is this a realistic, comprehensive assessment of the components of artistic and athletic success? Stress situations can create vulnerability to mistakes, even in professionals. Not one strategy is known to consistently shelter humans from the fear of public scrutiny. As long as the factors underlying personal achievement are not sufficiently researched, sub-optimal performance will remain a possibility. An interdisciplinary understanding of human physiology, psychology and behavior can aid the development and implementation of training, motivational, and coping strategies that help performers to achieve their best, even under pressure.

Das Buch umfasst Erkenntnisse aus der Angstforschung, Sportpsychologie sowie der klinischen Psychologie und betrachtet diese unter Einbeziehung der Besonderheiten des Musizierens. Eine geordnete Übersicht gibt Auskunft über den gegenwärtigen Wissensstand. Die Beurteilung der Untersuchungen schließt Empfehlungen für die zukünftige Forschung ein.