This study examined the relative effectiveness of mental practice in improving trombone performance. The experiment involved 30 trombonists from three colleges. They were randomly assigned to one of five experimental practice conditions: (1) all physical practice, (2) all mental practice, (3) a combination of physical and mental practice, (4) mental practice with simulated slide movement, and (5) no practice (control). A short étude served as both a pre- and posttest. A one-way analysis of covariance and subsequent Scheffé's Test found three pairs of groups significantly different from each other: (1) combined practice and no practice, (2) combined practice and mental practice, and (3) physical practice and no practice. The results of the study suggest that the use of mental with physical practice can accrue many benefits for the skilled trombonist.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Egstrom, G. H. (1964). Effects of an emphasis on conceptualizing techniques during early learning of gross motor skill.Research Quarterly, 35, 472–481.
2.
Gilmore, R. W., and Stolurow, L. M. (1949). Motor and ‘mental’ practice of a ball and socket task.American Psychology, 39, 156–167.
3.
Huck, S. W., Cormier, W. H., & Bounds, W. G., Jr. (1974). Reading statistics and research (pp. 270-274). New York: Harper and Row.
4.
Jacobson, E. (1930a). Electrical measurement of neuromuscular states during mental activities I. Imagination of movement involving skeletal muscle.American Journal of Psysiology, 91, 567–608.
5.
Jacobson, E. (1930b). Electrical measurements of neuromuscular states during mental activities II. Imagination and recollection of various muscular acts.American Journal of Physiology, 94, 22–34.
6.
Jacobson, E. (1930c). Electrical measurements of neuromuscular states during mental activities III. Visual imagination and recollection.American Journal of Physiology, 95, 694–702.
7.
Jacobson, E. (1930d). Electrical measurements of neuromuscular states during mental activities IV. Evidence of contraction of specific muscles during imagination.American Journal of Physiology, 95, 703–712.
8.
Jacobson, E. (1931). Electrical measurements of neuromuscular states during mental activities V. Variation of specific muscles contracting during imagination.American Journal of Physiology, 96, 115–121.
9.
Jacobson, E. (1932). Electrophysiology of mental activities.American Journal of Psychology, 44, 667–694.
10.
Jastrow, J. A. (1892). Study of involuntary movements.American Journal of Psychology, 4, 398–407.
11.
Köhler, W. (1925). The mentality of apes.New York: Harcourt, Brace.
12.
Lafosse, A. (1949). School of sight reading and style, Book A.New York: M. Baron.
13.
Oxendine, J. B. (1969). Effects of mental and physical practice on the learning of three motor skills.Research Quarterly, 40, 755–763.
14.
Perry, H. M. (1939). The relative efficiency of actual and imaginary practice in five selected tasks.Archives of Psychology, 34, 5–75.
15.
Phipps, S. J., & Morehouse, C. A. (1969). Effects of mental practice on the acquisition of motor skills of varied difficulty.Research Quarterly, 40, 773–77.
16.
Powell, G. E. (1973). Negative and positive mental practice in motor skill acquisition. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 37, 312.
17.
Ryan, E. D., & Simons, J. (1982). Efficacy of mental imagery in enhancing mental rehearsal of motor skills.Journal of Sport Psychology, 2, 35–45.
18.
Smith, L. E., & Harrison, J. S. (1962). Comparison of the effects of visual, motor, mental, and guided practice upon speed and accuracy of performing a simple eye-hand coordination task.Research Quarterly, 33, 299–307.
19.
Start, K. B. (1960). Relationship between intelligence and the effect of mental practice on the performance of a motor skill.Research Quarterly, 30, 644–649.
20.
Start, K. B. (1964). Kinesthesia and mental practice.Research Quarterly, 35, 85–90.
21.
Stebbins, R. J. (1968). A comparison of the effects of physical practice and mental practice in learning a motor skill.Research Quarterly, 39, 714–720.
22.
Ulich, E. (1967). Some experiments in the function of mental training in the acquisition of motor skills.Ergonomics, 10, 411–419.
23.
Vandell, R. A., Davis, R. A., & Clugston, H. A. (1943). The function of mental practice in the acquisition of motor skills.Journal of Psychology, 29, 243–250.
24.
Wickman, H., & Lizotte, P. (1983). Effects of mental practice and locus of control on performance of dart throwing.Perceptual and Motor Skills, 56, 807–812.
