Psychology for Musicians

Book excerpt: In recent years, a psychological perspective has gained increasing acceptance in the education provided to musicians: teachers, performers, and "creatives" alike. Research in music psychology has revealed how musicians acquire the ability to convey emotional intentions as sounded music, how listeners perceive it as feelings and moods, and how this powerful process relates to social and cultural dynamics. Of course, people who identify as musicians have special interest in these matters. A well-cited volume ever since its initial publication in 2007, Psychology for Musicians is now brought up-to-date in a second edition, particularly in expanding outside the exclusive context of Western formal/academic settings. This new edition draws on insights from recent research in music psychology, combining academic rigor with accessibility to offer readers research-supported ideas that they can readily apply in their musical activities.