Reading: Why is stress management useful?
1. Using the four headings in this reading of why stress management is useful. Have you had experiences that confirm the information in these headings?
2. What are your current ways to counteract stress in order to do your best and to feel comfortable?
3. Please clarify by example why stress management is particularly important for musicians?
4. What would you like to learn more about in relation to stress management?
Film: Fight, Flight, Freeze Response
5. What is the function of the fight, flight or freeze response? What is it designed to do for us? When is it a good thing?
6. What are some of the physical manifestations of the fight, flight or freeze response? How do are bodies respond when our brain gives the alarm signal?
7. What does it do to our ability to function: to our vision, coordination, and concentration?
8. It is possible to faint when the fight, flight or freeze response is activated?
9. How does the fight, flight or freeze response affect our thoughts and interpretations of what is going on around us?
10. How can it lead to misinterpretation of situations around us? What name does the film give to these misinterpretations? What effects does long-term stress have on the way we see things around us?
11. Did you recognize anything from the fight or flight movie from your own life experience? Give an example.
Social Intelligence (Film: 20 signs your a emotionally mature) You will need to watch this whole film to answer these questions:
12. How can you gain real confidence and acceptance of yourself? (point number 4, 13 & 16 in the film)
13. What are the best ways to change your mood and find happiness? (point numbers 6, 15 & 18 in the film)
Film: Why we only learn when we repeat:
14. Explain the sieve and bucket images of the mind.
15. As a practicing musician, what have you learned about the power of repetition? What is the best way to learn something well over time?
Self-fulfilling Prophecy (Film: The Pygmalion Effect)
16. What happened to the child when a teacher was told that a child was a “late bloomer.”
17. What did the teachers do different when they thought a child was a late bloomer?
18. Do you have an example from your own life about how positive or negative feedback changed how you felt about yourself and how you functioned?
Trying the exercises (fill in after at least 4 repetitions, during 1 week practice).
The exercises are “using touch of the hand and breath awareness,” and “focusing with the eyes.”
19. What happened when you tried the exercises?
20. Have you already done such focusing techniques before, or other ones that you find useful?
21. Which focus exercise did you choose to repeat during the week, or did you do both?
22. Does your music help you focus, or do you do your practicing in a distracted way?
23. Do you take breaks to refresh your thinking?
24. What tactics do you use to improve your focus?
Please note: If the content of this questionnaire or lecture have touched upon things that you need to talk about, please contact your tutor, confidential counselor or dean of students. All the links are to be found on the student portal. Or contact the teacher for more information: criss.taylor@hku.nl