Akira Liu

Akira Liu is a PhD candidate at the Centre for Performance Science at the Royal College of Music, supervised by Dr Anna Detari and Professor Trevor Herbert. His doctoral research investigates a revised approach to understanding the association between professional didactic treaties and embouchure-related problems in brass performance, including musician focal dystonia, with implication to promote efficient and healthy playing. Akira is a recipient of RCM scholarship for his doctoral study.

Akira obtained a Bachelor of Science in psychology at University College London, where he was trained primarily in cognitive psychology, philosophy of mind, and research methodology and analysis. He has taken the position of undergraduate teaching assistant on research methods over the course of his study. In 2023, Akira graduated with a distinction in Master of Science in performance science from RCM, where he investigated the teaching philosophy and use of imagination in brass performance. The findings from his Master's dissertation have fed into the doctoral topic, as different didactic treaties could significantly affect players' ideology to daily practice and performance.

Before and alongside academic training, Akira studies trombone performance with many renowned trombonists in London, including Andrew Connington, Matthew Knight, James Buckle, and Paul Milner. In earlier training, he has suffered from dystonic embouchure movements in playing the instrument, which sparked his interest in studying dysfunctions in brass performance. He also has a profound interest in the history of practice and education of trombone performance.

Besides academic endeavour, Akira is chairing the University of London Symphony Orchestra, a leading intercollegiate student orchestra founded in 1955 to give students with diverse backgrounds the opportunity to develop their interests in orchestral playing. He also enjoys exploring photography and German romantic trombone as hobbies. 

Faculties / departments: Research

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