Tania Lisboa is Reader in Performance Science and Digital Learning at the Royal College of Music. She is also an honorary Research Fellow at Imperial College London. Her current research focuses on expert memory, performance education, and communication in rehearsal. Tania is currently a commissioner to the International Society for Music Education’s Commission for the Education of the Professional Musician.
Her doctoral research at Sheffield University employed longitudinal studies with young cellists to investigate the relationship between musical understanding and a multi-modal approach to teaching and learning. Since 2003, Tania has also managed the RCM’s videoconferencing programme. Recent activities in this area include links with international conservatoires and universities in the USA, Europe and Asia.
In parallel with her academic research, Tania pursues an active career as a solo cellist. A native of Brazil, where she also trained as a pianist, her concert engagements encompass Europe, Asia, and North and South America. In addition to the standard repertoire, she has recorded the complete works for cello and piano by C Guarnieri and by H Villa-Lobos for Meridian Records, the latter in three volumes.
Email: tania.lisboa@rcm.ac.uk
Current projects
PUBLICATIONS
2023
Thompson G, Lisboa T, & Ockelford A (2023), Autism and family-centered approaches in and through music, in M Barrett and GF Welch (eds.), Oxford Handbook of Early Childhood Music Learning and Development, Oxford University Press.
2022
Fonte V, Pipa L, Williamon A, & Lisboa T (2022), Memorising contemporary piano music as described by professional pianists, Music and Science, 5, 1-15 [DOI].
Lisboa T, Jonasson P, & Johnson C (2022), Synchronous online learning, teaching, and performing, in GE McPherson (ed.), Oxford Handbook of Music Performance, Vol 2 (pp. 499-527), Oxford University Press.
2021
Lisboa T, Shaugnessy C, Voyajolu A, & Ockelford A (2021), Promoting the musical engagement of autistic children in the early years through a program of parental support: an ecological research study, Music & Science, 4, 1-24 [DOI].
Camlin DA & Lisboa T (2021), The digital ‘turn’ in music education (editorial), Music Education Research, 23, 129-138 [DOI].
2020
Demos AP, Lisboa T, Logan T, Begosh KT, & Chaffin R (2020), A longitudinal study of the development of expressive timing, Psychology of Music, 48, 50-66 [DOI].
2019
Jónasson P & Lisboa T (2019), Professional musicians as researchers: leading changes through a study on memorization, in D Bennett, JL Rowley, & PK Schmidt (eds.), Leadership of Pedagogy and Curriculum in Higher Music Education (pp. 133-149), Routledge.
2018
Lisboa T, Demos AP, & Chaffin R (2018), Training thought and action for virtuoso performance, Musicae Scientiae, 22, 519-538 [DOI].
2016
Demos AP, Lisboa T, & Chaffin R (2016), Flexibility of expressive timing in repeated musical performances, Frontiers in Psychology, 7 (1490), 1-9 [DOI].
2015
Lisboa T, Chaffin R, & Demos AP (2015), Recording thoughts while memorizing music: a case study, Frontiers in Psychology, 5 (1561), 1-13 [DOI].
2014
Clark T, Lisboa T, & Williamon A (2014), An investigation into musicians’ thoughts and perceptions during performance, Research Studies in Music Education, 36, 19-37 [DOI].
Clark T, Lisboa T, & Williamon A (2014), Learning to be an instrumental musician, in I Papageorgi & G Welch (eds.), Advanced Musical Performance: Investigations in Higher Education Learning (pp. 287-300), Ashgate.
2013
Clark T & Lisboa T (2013), Training for sustained performance: moving toward long-term musician development, Medical Problems of Performing Artists, 28, 159-168.
Lisboa T, Chaffin R, & Demos A (2013), Recording thoughts as an aid to memorization: a case study, in A Williamon & W Goebl (eds.), Proceedings of the International Symposium on Performance Science 2013 (pp. 625-630), European Association of Conservatoires.
Lisboa T, Chaffin R, Demos A, & Gerling C (2013), Flexibility in the use of shared and individual performance cues in duo performance, in A Williamon & W Goebl (eds.), Proceedings of the International Symposium on Performance Science 2013 (pp. 465-470), European Association of Conservatoires.
2011
Cervino A, Laws C, Lettberg M, & Lisboa T (eds.) (2011), The Practice of Practising, University Press Leuven [ISBN].
Lisboa T, Chaffin R, & Logan T (2011), A self-study of practice: words versus action in music problem solving, in A Williamon, D Edwards, & L Bartel (eds.), Proceedings of the International Symposium on Performance Science 2011 (pp. 517-522), European Association of Conservatoires.
2010
Chaffin R, Lisboa T, Logan T, & Begosh K (2010), Preparing for memorized cello performance: the role of performance cues, Psychology of Music, 38, 3-30 [DOI].
2009
Chaffin R & Lisboa T (2009), Practicing perfection: how concert soloists prepare for performance, Ictus, 9, 115-142.
Lisboa T, Chaffin R, & Logan T (2009), How memory fades: very-long-term recall of Bach, in A Williamon, S Pretty, & R Buck (eds.), Proceedings of the International Symposium on Performance Science 2009 (pp. 315-320), European Association of Conservatoires.
Lisboa T & Gualda F (2009), Left-hand expression in cello playing: Exploring approaches to shifting, in A Williamon, S Pretty, & R Buck (eds.), Proceedings of the International Symposium on Performance Science 2009 (pp. 423-428), European Association of Conservatoires.
2008
Lisboa T (2008), Action and thought in cello playing: an investigation of children’s practice and performance, International Journal of Music Education, 26, 243-267 [DOI].
Lisboa T (2008), Review of Mastering the Art of Performance (OUP, 2006), British Journal of Music Education, 25, 103-106 [DOI].
2007
Clark T, Williamon A, & Lisboa T (2007), The phenomenology of performance: exploring musicians’ perceptions and experiences, in A Williamon & D Coimbra (eds.), Proceedings of the International Symposium on Performance Science 2007 (pp. 35-40), European Association of Conservatoires.
Lisboa T, Chaffin R, Logan T, & Begosh K (2007), Variability and automaticity in highly practiced cello performance, in A Williamon & D Coimbra (eds.), Proceedings of the International Symposium on Performance Science 2007 (pp. 161-166), European Association of Conservatoires.
2006
Williamon A, Thompson S, Lisboa T, & Wiffen C (2006), Creativity, originality, and value in music performance, in I Deliège & G Wiggins (eds.), Musical Creativity: Multidisciplinary Research in Theory and Practice (pp. 161-180), Psychology Press.
2005
Lisboa T, Williamon A, Zicari M, & Eiholzer H (2005), Mastery through imitation: a preliminary study, Musicae Scientiae, 9, 75-110 [DOI].
2003
Lisboa T (2003), An overview of Villa-Lobos’ compositions for the violoncello, Música Hodie, 3, 44-51.
Recordings
Lisboa T & Capparelli C (pianist) (2008), The Brazilian Cello, Meridian Records.
Lisboa T & Braga M (pianist) (1997, 2e released 2005), Villa-Lobos – O Violoncello do Villa: Complete Works for ‘Cello and Piano (Vol. 1), Meridian Records.
Lisboa T, Braga M (pianist), & Zhang Y (violinist) (1998), Villa-Lobos – O Violoncello do Villa: Complete Works for Violin, ‘Cello and Piano (Vol. 2) , Meridian Records.
Lisboa T, Braga M (pianist), & Milone R (violinist) (2003), Villa-Lobos – O Violoncello do Villa: Complete Works for Violin, ‘Cello and Piano (Vol. 3), Meridian Records.
Lisboa T & de La Pau Tortelier M (pianist) (1997), Fauré – Les Soirées Intimes: Complete Works for ‘Cello and Piano, Meridian Records.
Lisboa T & Askin C (violinist) (1996), Octachord: Virtuoso Duos for Violin and ‘Cello, Meridian Records.
