Understanding of cognitive strategies in supporting artistic expressions, reducing stress, performance anxiety and emotional blockings are of paramount importance to empower students’ and prepare for a sustainable work life as musicians. How can we aid musical artists to cope and master their emotional and mental dissonances in order to empower creative and artistic progressions in a sustainable way within higher music education?

This pilot has several aims including investigating possibilities for higher education to interact with societal artistic communities as well as students’ DIY culture using available technology in order to analyse and co-create a professional development including artistic competence, holistic awareness and personal balance. The project will explore transformative technologies; HRV, Muse (EEG), Soma Mat & Breathing Light (heat and breath feedback), and the ARK-crystal, which differ regarding presented data (biofeedback) and function. Further, how these devices relate to research theory and methodology. We pose the critical question: Can these applications contribute to the identification, interpretation, and organization of the First Instrument, the students’ own aesthetic sensory information, embodied behaviours and cognitive strategies?

This presentation will include methodological challenges discussed and interpreted in the transdisciplinary research group SANE – embracing researchers in art, quantum physics, medicine, sustainability learning, and biology.