Men­tal Prac­tice Strategies

The course introduces the students to mental and practical strategies to help them resolve known and unknown issues around the practice process and will help ensure more effective and efficient learning.

It is often thought that mental practice means practising without the instrument. This course takes a 50/50 approach to mental/physical practice with a view to improving concentration, becoming more effective and reducing strain injuries.

The course is open to all students enrolled on the performance and music education programmes.

The course is taught in Norwegian and English.

Course co-ordinator: Mattias Johansson

The course will provide an introduction to:

• How to reinforce the link between the performing body and the musical mind
• Visualising how it feels and how it sounds by recreating and projecting movement and sound
• Exercises in rhythmic, choreographic and augmented concentration
• Instant memorisation
• Developing the “inner ear”

On completion of this course, the student is expected to

• have developed mental and practical practice techniques and strategies
• be aware of their performance level and practise accordingly
• know that the “inner ear” should be part of the practice process
• be familiar with how the brain works – the subconscious and conscious mechanisms that come into play when performing.

The course is given in groups for 90 minutes x 24 across the autumn and spring semesters. The students will be using their principal instruments and be both active and passive participants.

The course also involves oral presentations, group practice, learning set pieces and some homework linked to the different practice strategies being taught.

Attendance and active participation are mandatory. This means that more than 20% non-attendance will normally cause the student to fail the course.

All course requirements must be met before the student can be given a final assessment.

The assessment is based on the learning objectives for the course. The course is assessed on a pass or fail basis by the course tutor in the form of an individual evaluation of the student’s level of attainment.