The Technology of Mind Maps in Instruction of Performance of Techniques of Playing the Balalaika

The relevance of this work is determined by the insuffi cient attention to the problem of muscular tension in the methodologies of instruction of playing the balalaika for the beginning school age. The interest in this subject is confi rmed by a list of works by authors from Russia and from other countries in which attention is drawn to the issues of professional ailments of musicians and students of musical educational institutions. For the sake of perfecting the methodology of instruction, the article contains the suggestion of application of the technology of mind maps. As a result, a system perception of this issue of performance is received in which the interaction of the performer’s body, hands and legs with the indication of possible incorrect motions, which in their turn stipulate the appearance of muscular tension. The results of the analysis of one of the most important techniques of playing the balalaika — strumming — is presented in great detail in the form of mind maps. Conclusions are arrived at about the prospects of applying the technology of mind maps upon instruction of playing the balalaika.