Music teachers aim to deepen their students’ music understanding. An underused tool for doing so is incorporating mindful practice into music teaching. Through discussing research, examples from the classroom, and steps for incorporating mindful practices in lesson planning, the author hopes to illustrate its potential benefits and set music teachers’ minds at ease: Beginning to incorporate mindful practice is worthwhile but need not be elaborate, stressful, or intimidating.
AndersonW. T. (2015). Mindful music listening instruction increases listening sensitivity and enjoyment. Update: Applications of Research in Music Education. Advance online publication. doi:10.1177/8755123314567905
2.
BaerR. A. (2006). Introduction to the core practices and exercises. In BaerR. A. (Ed.), Mindfulness-based treatment approaches: Clinician’s guide to evidence base and applications (pp. 3–30). San Francisco, CA: Academic Press.
3.
CaplanM.PortilloA.SeelyL. (2013). Yoga psychotherapy: The integration of Western psychological theory and ancient yoga wisdom. Journal of Transpersonal Psychology, 45, 139–158.
4.
ChangJ. C.MidlarskyE.LinP. (2003). The effects of meditation on music performance anxiety. Medical Problems of Performing Artists, 18, 126–130.
5.
DiazF. M. (2011). Mindfulness, attention, and flow during music listening: An empirical investigation. Psychology of Music, 41, 42–58.
6.
FeierabendJ. M. (2000). The book of tapping & clapping. Chicago, IL: GIA.
KhalsaS. B.ShorterS. M.CopeS.WyshakG.SklarE. (2009). Yoga ameliorates performance anxiety and mood disturbance in young professional musicians. Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, 34, 279–289.
9.
LangerE. J.RusselT.EisenkraftN. (2009). Orchestral performance and the footprint of mindfulness. Psychology of Music, 37, 125–136. doi:10.1177/0305735607086053
10.
MendelsonT.GreenbergM.DariotisJ.GouldL.RhoadesB.LeafP. (2010). Feasibility and preliminary outcomes of a school-based mindfulness intervention for urban youth. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 38, 985–994.
11.
SegallS. R. (2005). Mindfulness and self-development in psychotherapy. Journal of Transpersonal Psychology, 37, 143–163.
12.
ShapiroS. L.WalshR. (2003). An analysis of recent meditation research and suggestions for future directions. The Humanistic Psychologist, 31(2–3), 86–114. doi:10.1080/08873267.2003.9986927
13.
SuY. H.LuhJ. J.ChenC. C.LiaoM. J.ChenH. S. (2010). Effects of using relaxation breathing training to reduce music performance anxiety in 3rd to 6th graders. Medical Problems of Performing Artists, 25, 82–86.
14.
VallejoZ.AmaroH. (2009). Adaptation of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program for addiction relapse prevention. The Humanistic Psychologist, 37, 192–206. doi:10.1080/08873260902892287