This study investigates the influence of music psychology theory on students’ emotional expression abilities and identifies key theoretical principles that can enhance the effectiveness of music education in China. Employing a survey-based research design, the study analysed 298 valid questionnaires collected from undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in two major national music conservatories. The findings reveal that equipping students with foundational knowledge of psychology and developing their cognitive understanding significantly enhances their emotional expressiveness in musical performance. Students who received instruction grounded in music psychology theory demonstrated higher levels of emotional expression compared to those who did not. Moreover, the results highlight the mediating role of music performance education in the relationship between music psychology education and students’ emotional expressiveness, as well as its direct impact on emotional performance outcomes. Additionally, student engagement was found to serve as a mediator influencing the connection between music psychology education and emotional expression ability. The study contributes to advancing pedagogical strategies in music education by integrating psychological theory to foster deeper emotional communication through performance.
