Unit 12.2

Question 1

Practice Strategies
- distributed (many short sessions) vs. massed practice (one single long session)
- 1940 study

Answer 1

1940 study found
- massed practice leads to quicker learning of short musical sequences
- distributed practice led to better retention of the music after two weeks and more accuracy describing the music from memory

Question 2

Practice Strategies
- distributed (many short sessions) vs. massed practice (one single long session)
- Ericsson et al (1993)

Answer 2

• best violinists distributed their practice into 3-4 sessions per day
• 30 min-2 hour sessions, including breaks within sessions
• top two groups of violinists also napped more

Question 3

Part vs. Whole (4 concepts)

Answer 3

1. serial: start from beginning every time
2. segmented: learn segments & link together
3. additive: segmented, but cumulative
4. holistic: top to bottom, backtrack after errors (just enough to correct)
   (additive & holistic lead to faster learning for massed practice)
   (musicians preparing longer/more complex work often rely on a combo of part and whole approaches)

Question 4

How to practice with words AND music

Answer 4

early sessions: practice together
later sessions: learn separately

Question 5

Silent practice techniques (3)

Answer 5

1. analytical pre-study (forming a mental representation of what it’s going to sound like)
2. mental practice/rehearsal (physically play and now can mentally practice)
3. modeling (watching someone else play the piece

Question 6

Analytical pre-study (explain trial/study)

Answer 6

two groups
1. study group given only sheet music for 30 min
2. practice group could play on piano for 30 min
after 30 min - practice group was better, then both groups had access to piano (10 min)
- after 10 min both groups were playing at equal levels

Question 7

Mental practice

Answer 7

a combo of physical practice and mental practice may be equally as effective for improving performance as physical practice alone
Improvements in:
- pitch, rhythm
- memorization
- tonal quality
- pitch accuracy

Question 8

Modeling

Answer 8

• young kids work best with similar model (ie. another kid singing)
• advanced instrumentalists who listened attentively to a recording of musical work before physically practicing it for 3 min outperformed those who had physically practice for 10 min

Question 9

Playing-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (PRMDs) could result in:

Answer 9

• repetitive strain injuries
• muscle-tendon overuse syndromes (“tendinitis”)
• nerve entrapment (“carpal tunnel syndrome”)
• muscle imbalance
• music- induced hearing loss

Question 10

Playing-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (PRMDs) causes:

Answer 10

• asymmetrical postures
• smaller frames
• > 30 years
• females more susceptible vs. males
• lifestyle attributes (nutrition, substance abuse, high trait anxiety)