A curriculum on mental skills and concepts for effective practice and performance

Abstract

The following project is a college-level curriculum on mental training for musicians. Based on the understanding, discussion, study, and practice of several mental skills, the class is intended to provide psychological strategies and specific exercises for improving practice, performance, and overall student well-being.

Mental skills do not replace physical practice but are crucial, nevertheless, for consistently managing the demands of the music field. In addition to receiving mental-skills training, students should revise those skills daily until their application becomes automatic.