Music and Emotions: Spectrum of Possibilities in Esthetics Sports

This chapter examines the role of music in artistic sports, regarding the pedagogical, emotional, cognitive, and esthetic dimensions of training. Starting from literature in physical education, sport pedagogy, musicology, and psychology, the text explores how music functions not only as a performance backdrop but also as a structuring and expressive tool within training environments. Music is shown to enhance rhythmic perception, motor coordination, emotional engagement, and expressive sensitivity, especially in sports such as rhythmic gymnastics, artistic gymnastics, figure skating, and artistic swimming. Through a review of recent research, including qualitative analyses, the chapter highlights how the congruence between music and movement influences performance quality, as well as how music serves as a motivational and organizational device in training routines. The discussion extends to the training of coaches, advocating for the development of auditory sensitivity and musical literacy as pedagogical competencies. By framing coaches as esthetic mediators, the chapter emphasizes the need for musical education as part of coach development programs in esthetic-oriented disciplines. Finally, it problematizes the cultural devaluation of expressiveness and musicality in sports training, often seen as feminine attributes, calling for a broader understanding of music as an integral element of human movement and sporting excellence.