Twenty-sixth International Conference on Learning

Abstract

This study describes a pilot educational project aimed at applying the CRAFT program (Consciousness, relaxation, attention, happiness, and transcendence) for student musicians as part of their curricula, in order to improve psychological and physical abilities which are frequently affected in this population. CRAFT is a holistic program which tries to compile several meditational and psychological disciplines (i.e. emotional intelligence, positive psychology, mindfulness, yoga) in order to enhance their already proved benefits when applied in isolation. The program has been applied during two consecutive academic years through two elective academic subjects, the so called “mindfulness” and “emotional intelligence”, offered by the High Conservatory of Music “Victoria Eugenia” of Granada, Spain. First, we have found that these elective CRAFT subjects were largely accepted among students. The second part of the project was to empirically test whether CRAFT practice is able to produce significant improvements in several emotional, cognitive, and physical abilities among students. To do so, independent researchers asked students to voluntarily participate in a longitudinal study, taking several emotional, cognitive, and physical standardized measures at the beginning and end of the semester. Although still very preliminary, the first positive findings are related to mindfulness ability (FFMQ) and emotional regulation abilities (cognitive reappraisal, ERQ) which were improved after CRAFT practice. Taken together we can conclude that CRAFT program seems a promising tool to improve wellbeing among music students.