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Centre for Music Performance Research

Research in music psychology, music education and cognate disciplines

The Centre for Music Performance Research was established in 2005 to support the work of the Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning , funded by HEFCE until 2010.  Research carried out within the Centre aims to produce findings that have direct practical applications for teaching and learning music: to enhance the training of instrumental and vocal teachers, to facilitate the coaching of chamber musicians and small ensembles and to develop student and professional musicians' skills in educational outreach and health contexts.

One full-time Research Fellow in the Centre, Dr Jane Ginsborg carries out research using a range of approaches in collaboration with colleagues in the UK, USA, mainland Europe and Australia. She also supports research and scholarly activity carried out by full and part-time members of staff at the RNCM.  In addition she teaches psychology for musicians, music psychology and research methods on undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, and supervises postgraduate research.

The Centre has launched a music journal called Music Performance Research.

Recent and current projects include:

  • Music and health: the investigation of relationships between attitudes to health, experiences of ill-health and actual fitness in music performance students, including those at pre-tertiary level
  • Promoting excellence in small group music making: teaching, learning and assessment;  audiovisual coordination in ensembles; the roles of expertise and partnership in duo performance; analysing interaction in instrumental lessons
  • Pathways to adolescent musical expertise; team teaching; conductors’ skilled movements; music researchers’ musical engagement

Dr Jane Ginsborg Publication list