Faculty of Education and Arts

School: WA Academy of Performing Arts

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    The Psychology of Successful Performance
  • Unit Code

    MUS3520
  • Year

    2015
  • Enrolment Period

    1
  • Version

    1
  • Credit Points

    10
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery


Description

A performers psychological preparation as a major impact on the practical business of playing music. It affects practice, tuition, rehearsal, goal-setting, performance and examinations and auditions. Athletes are routinely trained to achieve peak mental fitness, with reliable techniques and more predictable outcomes. The unit will address successful strategies with practical exercises and tactics, and will lay down a theoretical underpinning to give clear context.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Have a range of practical exercises and tactics to deploy in daily practice and in long-term planning.
  2. Have the ability to create individual strategies for building a reliable psychological approach to making music.
  3. Understand the influence of good and bad psychological states in music performance.
  4. Understand the theoretical context of basic musical psychology.

Unit Content

  1. Assessment of current strengths and weaknesses.
  2. Creating a conducive atmosphere.
  3. Cultivating determined thinking.
  4. Energy level, meditation, activation and deactivation.
  5. Final performance preparation.
  6. Left brain/right brain balance.
  7. Mental rehearsal, consistency, resilience.
  8. Understanding of the physiology of stress.

Additional Learning Experience Information

Weekly lectures involving lecture presentations, reading and research tasks, practical demonstrations, critical discussions, keeping a journal.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
Research PaperIn-class exegesis and written report30%
JournalDocumenting self-reflection and practical steps taken; several individual assessed elements70%

Text References

  • ^ Parncutt, R., & McPherson, G. The science and psychology of music performance. Oxford University Press.
  • ^ Kenny, D. (2011). The psychology of music performance anxiety. Oxford University Press.

Journal References

  • Brotons, M. (1994). Effects of performing conditions on music performance anxiety and performance quality. Journal therapy. Vol 31(1), pp 63-81.
  • LeBlanc, A., Chang Jin, Y., Obert, M., & Siivola, C. (1997). Research in music education. Vol 45 (3). pp 480-496.
  • Kenny, D.T., & Osborne, M.S. (2006). Music performance anxiety: New insights from young musicians. Advances in cognitive psychology. Vol 2, pp 2-3, 103-112.

Website References

^ Mandatory reference


Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

MUS3520|1|1

Faculty of Education and Arts

School: WA Academy of Performing Arts

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    The Psychology of Successful Performance
  • Unit Code

    MUS3520
  • Year

    2015
  • Enrolment Period

    2
  • Version

    1
  • Credit Points

    10
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery


Description

A performers psychological preparation as a major impact on the practical business of playing music. It affects practice, tuition, rehearsal, goal-setting, performance and examinations and auditions. Athletes are routinely trained to achieve peak mental fitness, with reliable techniques and more predictable outcomes. The unit will address successful strategies with practical exercises and tactics, and will lay down a theoretical underpinning to give clear context.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Have a range of practical exercises and tactics to deploy in daily practice and in long-term planning.
  2. Have the ability to create individual strategies for building a reliable psychological approach to making music.
  3. Understand the influence of good and bad psychological states in music performance.
  4. Understand the theoretical context of basic musical psychology.

Unit Content

  1. Assessment of current strengths and weaknesses.
  2. Creating a conducive atmosphere.
  3. Cultivating determined thinking.
  4. Energy level, meditation, activation and deactivation.
  5. Final performance preparation.
  6. Left brain/right brain balance.
  7. Mental rehearsal, consistency, resilience.
  8. Understanding of the physiology of stress.

Additional Learning Experience Information

Weekly lectures involving lecture presentations, reading and research tasks, practical demonstrations, critical discussions, keeping a journal.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
Research PaperIn-class exegesis and written report30%
JournalDocumenting self-reflection and practical steps taken; several individual assessed elements70%

Text References

  • ^ Parncutt, R., & McPherson, G. The science and psychology of music performance. Oxford University Press.
  • ^ Kenny, D. (2011). The psychology of music performance anxiety. Oxford University Press.

Journal References

  • Brotons, M. (1994). Effects of performing conditions on music performance anxiety and performance quality. Journal therapy. Vol 31(1), pp 63-81.
  • LeBlanc, A., Chang Jin, Y., Obert, M., & Siivola, C. (1997). Research in music education. Vol 45 (3). pp 480-496.
  • Kenny, D.T., & Osborne, M.S. (2006). Music performance anxiety: New insights from young musicians. Advances in cognitive psychology. Vol 2, pp 2-3, 103-112.

Website References

^ Mandatory reference


Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

MUS3520|1|2