ASIAMS · Auditory and sensory-motor integration in the acquisition and maintenance of skilled movements in musical performance
FP6 — Marie Curie Actions (Human Resources and Mobility)
- Duration
- 2007-01-08 → 2008-06-07
- EU contribution
- €106,242
- Participants
- 1
- Scheme
- EIF
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Results in brief
Final Activity Report Summary - ASIAMS (Auditory and Sensory-motor Integration in the Acquisition and Maintenance of Skilled movements in musical performance.)
Sensory-motor skills of musicians have some specific qualities. Learning typically begins at an early age in a playful atmosphere. Routines for stereotyped movements are rehearsed for extended periods of time with gradually increasing degrees of complexity. Via auditory feedback, the motor performance is extremely controllable by both performer and audience. However, refining movement patterns guided only by listening does not necessarily lead to optimal and healthy movement strategies. The objectives of the project were to investigate the relationship between movement gesture and produced sound in percussion playing. By comparing healthy percussionists and players with a history of movement related disorders, such as chronic pain or musicians cramp, we aimed to be able to find what characterised an appropriate and healthy movement pattern. To this aim, we compared movement, muscle activity and sound characteristics in eight professional percussionists, four healthy and four patients, as well as in one novice. We simultaneously recorded the movement of the arm and drumstick, muscle activity using electromyography, sound and contact force between drumstick and drumhead. The players performed single strokes at different tempi and dynamic levels. Although the movement patterns differed largely between players, there was some evidence of the dysfunctional movement patterns as being more tense and rigid. In addition, we complemented the acoustical sound analysis with subjective listeners ratings of the sound. This was done in order to identify the sound characteristics which were mainly affecting the perceived expression.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
We seldom are aware of the precise movements we perform, for instance when writing a letter or cooking dinner. Our auditory system, by contrast, is extremely sensitive to even small changes in the timing and timbre of sounds that reach our ears. Refining ones playing skill should lead to optimal performance. However, it is also possible that it could lead to unhealthy movement strategies. In fact, no less than 82% of musicians reportedly suffer from medical problems, a large number of these being musculo-skeletal problems.This project aims at gaining a deeper understanding of the plasticity of auditory-sensory-motor integration. Our intention is to combine competences from acoustic and neuroscience disciplines to provide unique information about how a musician develops his/her skills using auditory feedback. We will invite a large group of musicians, drummers and pianists as subjects. Half of the musicians will be skilled performers, the other half beginners.This project aims to respond to the specific objectives of the action by: Adding complementary scientific competences in the process of reaching a position of professional maturity and independence (for example advanced research training in multi- and interdisciplinary fields); Undertaking transnational mobility in a European organization most appropriate to the needs of the applicant; Gaining competence diversification (in that the applicant takes the knowledge of sound producing movements into a new setting, and extending and diversifying her research knowledge and skills); Consolidating and widening of the applicants career prospects (including advanced training and professional maturity).This project proposal aims at responding to the objectives of the European research area, and this call in particular, by: Development and inter-disciplinary transfer of research competencies; Promoting excellence in European research; Promoting women researchers within Europe.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- INSTITUTE OF MUSIC PHYSIOLOGY AND MUSICIANS' MEDICINE HANOVER UNIVERSITY OF MUSIC AND DRAMA · HANNOVERCoordinatorCity levelGermany
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union