Psychological mechanism of audio-visual synaesthesia in the teaching of instrumental performance

Abstract

Instrumental performance is a basic course for music students. The teaching effect of this course can be improved by utilizing the audio-visual synaesthesia. This paper probes into the psychological mechanism of audio-visual synaesthesia in the teaching of instrumental performance. First, the basic theories of music and synaesthesia were introduced in details. Next, 30 first-year music students were selected for a synaesthesia experiment of instrumental performance, with piano as the main instrument. The experimental data were discussed to reveal the effects of synaesthesia on visual height, visual shape, light and shade, and sense of movement. The research shows that the psychological mechanism of synaesthesia and the synesthetic psychological response both vary from person to person; rhythm had the most significant influence on sense of movement, the pitch exerted a very prominent influence on visual height, while pitch and intensity greatly affected light and shade, as well as visual shape. The research results provide reference for improving the teaching practice of instrumental performance.