Cognitive processes in interaction of music perception and performance

• Grant number: 11/22510-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2012
• End date: February 28, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Linguistics, Literature and Arts - Arts - Music
• Principal Investigator: Graziela Bortz
• Grantee: Helena Mindlin Xavier
• Host Institution: Instituto de Artes (IA). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

According to recent studies, learning an instrument and practicing it for continuous improvement change certain areas of the brain, and modify some of its structures (Schlaug, 2001; Pascual-Leone, 2009; Zatorre et al., 2007). This proposal aims at relating recent knowledge on cognitive processes involved in music perception to the performance of music students in the discipline of Music Perception and Rhythm at the Arts Institute of Unesp in the programs of Music Education and Bachelors in Composition, Conducting , Instrument, and Singing. Processes described by Wan e Schlaug (2010); Peretz e Zatorre (2003); Zatorre, Chen e Penhune (2007); Palmer (2005, 2006), among others, will be applied. They analyze brain plasticity in instrumentalists, showing how abilities necessary for performance are achieved, and also how diverse music parameters are processed in human brain. Added to it, a structured interview will be applied as a questionnaire to students of the discipline Music Perception and Rhythm I and II aiming at understanding how they access/activate their previous music knowledge, and their sensory-motor system, among other resources, at the moment of realizing dictating exercises, solfege, and excerpts transcriptions. After it, there will be a semi-structured interview with selected subjects from questionnaires.(AU)