Article, 2021

The effect of mental practice on music memorization

Psychology of Music, ISSN 0305-7356, 1741-3087, Volume 50, 1, Pages 230-244, 10.1177/0305735621995234

Contributors

Iorio, Claudia 0000-0002-2091-2061 (Corresponding author) [1] [2] Brattico, Elvira 0000-0003-0676-6464 [2] [3] Larsen, Frederik Munk [4] Vuust, Peter 0000-0002-4908-735X [2] Bonetti, Leonardo 0000-0001-9983-3819 [2]

Affiliations

  1. [1] Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté
    2. [NORA names: France; Europe, EU; OECD];
  2. [2] Aarhus University
    3. [NORA names: AU Aarhus University; University; Denmark; Europe, EU; Nordic; OECD];
  3. [3] University of Bari Aldo Moro
    4. [NORA names: Italy; Europe, EU; OECD];
  4. [4] Royal Academy of Music
    5. [NORA names: The Royal Academy of Music - Aarhus/Aalborg; Artistic Higher Education Institutions; Denmark; Europe, EU; Nordic; OECD]

Abstract

Mental practice (MP) in music refers to the ability to rehearse music in the mind without any muscular movements or acoustic feedback. While previous studies have shown effects of the combination of MP and physical practice (PP) on instrumental performance, here we aimed to assess MP and PP effects on memory abilities. During a 1-week music practice protocol, classical guitarists were asked to practise a new musical piece using either a combination of MP and PP or PP alone. We asked participants to perform the piece and notate it at 3 different times: Day 1 and Day 7 of the 1-week practice protocol and 10 days after its completion (follow-up session). Results showed that the combination of MP and PP improves both notation and performance tasks compared with PP alone. Furthermore, we observed a clearer difference in memory performance in the follow-up session as compared with that in Day 7. Our results show that musicians can use both MP and PP to improve long-term retention and to reduce physical workload and playing-related overuse injuries. Therefore, we encourage music educators to teach MP in the classrooms rather than letting students discover it in a serendipitous way.

Keywords

PP effects, ability, acoustic feedback, assess MP, classroom, combination, combination of MP, completion, day 1, day 7, days, education, effect, effects of mental practice, feedback, follow-up sessions, guitarists, injury, instrument performance, long-term retention, memory, memory ability, memory performance, mental practice, movement, muscular movements, music, music education, musical pieces, musicians, notation, overuse injuries, participants, performance, performance tasks, physical practice, physical workload, pieces, practical protocol, practice, protocol, reduce physical workload, rehearsed music, results, retention, sessions, students, study, task, workload

Data Provider: Digital Science

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