Music Performance Anxiety—Part 1: A Review of its Epidemiology

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 102-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ariadna O Brugués
Keyword(s):  
Music Performance ◽  
Performance Anxiety ◽  
Professional Experience ◽  
Review Of The Literature ◽  
Professional Musicians ◽  
Homogeneous Groups ◽  
Music Performance Anxiety ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Based Medicine

Music performance anxiety (MPA) affects many individuals regardless of age, gender, experience, and hours of practice. In order to better understand the epidemiology of MPA, a review of the literature was done. Sixteen articles, meeting EBM criteria, were identified and analyzed. Children rarely suffer from MPA, while adolescents show symptoms similar to adults. Females are generally more affected than males. There is no relation between professional experience and performance anxiety. Great musicians such as Pau Casals and Enrico Caruso suffered from MPA. Nevertheless, students affected by MPA may decide not to become professional musicians because of their inability to cope with the devastating effects of performance anxiety. Solo performances showed higher MPA scores than ensemble performances. Despite these conclusions, long-term cohort studies with larger, homogeneous groups of subjects would be desirable, according to the evidence-based medicine criteria.

scholarly journals Self representations and music performance anxiety: A study with professional and amateur musicians

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 792-805
Author(s):  
Claudia Castiglione ◽  
Alberto Rampullo ◽  
Silvia Cardullo
Keyword(s):  
Music Performance ◽  
Performance Anxiety ◽  
Situational Factors ◽  
Professional Musicians ◽  
Music Performance Anxiety ◽  
Amateur Musicians ◽  
Anxiety Levels ◽  
Future Self ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Relationship

Individual, social and situational factors might play an important role on the experience of anxiety during musical performances. The present research focused on the relationship between self-representations, including musical self, and performance anxiety among a sample of Italian professional and amateur musicians (N = 100; age, M = 23.40, 50% females). We predicted that higher self-discrepancies (actual vs. future self) would be associated with higher performance anxiety in a musical setting (vs. a non musical one), via musical self, and only in professional musicians. The results confirmed our hypothesis. Higher discrepancies between actual and future self-representations were positively associated with higher performance anxiety levels via the musical self only in participants who play instruments at a professional level. Furthermore, musical self influenced performance anxiety levels in a music related setting (i.e., a concert) but not in a non musical one (i.e., an exam).

Music Performance Anxiety—Part 2: A Review of Treatment Options

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 164-171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ariadna O Brugués
Keyword(s):  
Music Teachers ◽  
Behavioral Therapy ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Music Performance ◽  
Performance Anxiety ◽  
Homogeneous Groups ◽  
Music Performance Anxiety ◽  
Based Medicine ◽  
Methods Of Treatment

Music performance anxiety (MPA) affects many individuals independent of age, gender, experience, and hours of practice. In order to prevent MPA from happening or to alleviate it when it occurs, a review of the literature about its prevention and treatment was done. Forty-four articles, meeting evidence-based medicine (EBM) criteria, were identified and analyzed. Performance repertoire should be chosen based on the musician’s skill level, and it should be practiced to the point of automaticity. Because of this, the role of music teachers is essential in preventing MPA. Prevention is the most effective method against MPA. Several treatments (psychological as well as pharmacological) have been studied on subjects in order to determine the best treatment for MPA. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) seems to be the most effective, but further investigation is desired. Some musicians, in addition to CBT, also take β-blockers; however, these drugs should only be prescribed occasionally after analyzing the situation and considering the contraindications and possible side effects. Despite these conclusions, more randomized studies with larger, homogeneous groups of subjects would be desirable (according to the EBM criteria), as well as support for the necessity of both MPA prevention and optimized methods of treatment when it does occur.

scholarly journals Music performance anxiety from the challenge and threat perspective: psychophysiological and performance outcomes

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amélie J. A. A. Guyon ◽  
Regina K. Studer ◽  
Horst Hildebrandt ◽  
Antje Horsch ◽  
Urs M. Nater ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Music Performance ◽  
Performance Anxiety ◽  
Performance Outcomes ◽  
Music Performance Anxiety ◽  
Challenge And Threat ◽  
And Performance

Development and evaluation of two brief group interventions for music performance anxiety in community musicians

2017 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 66-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dianna T. Kenny ◽  
Naomi Halls
Keyword(s):  
Anxiety Sensitivity ◽  
Music Performance ◽  
Performance Anxiety ◽  
Behavioural Therapy ◽  
Group Interventions ◽  
Empirically Supported Treatment ◽  
Music Performance Anxiety ◽  
Performance Quality ◽  
And Performance

This study presents the development, administration and evaluation of two brief group interventions for music performance anxiety (MPA) aimed at reducing anxiety and improving performance quality. A cognitive behavioural therapy intervention was developed based on an existing empirically-supported treatment Chilled (Rapee et al., 2006), focusing on cognitive, physiological and behavioural symptoms. The second treatment, anxiety sensitivity reduction, targeted primarily physiological symptoms and included relaxation strategies. Interventions were administered in a workshop format over one day with four intervention sessions, preceded by a pedagogic practice skills session that functioned as a control/placebo intervention. A quasi-experimental group randomization design compared the interventions in a heterogeneous sample of community musicians. Sixty-eight participants completed measures of trait anxiety, anxiety sensitivity, depression, and MPA. Participants performed four times (pre- and post-placebo, post-treatment and follow-up) and were assessed for state anxiety and performance quality at each performance. Results indicated that both interventions offered moderately significant gains for the musicians: anxiety was reduced and performance quality improved after each intervention and changes were maintained at follow-up. Anxiety sensitivity reduction showed a trend to exceed the CBT-based interventions, but a larger, higher-powered study is needed to confirm this advantage.

Performance Anxiety Among Musicians

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 76-80
Author(s):  
Jennifer Mumm ◽  
Isabel Fernholz ◽  
Andreas Ströhle ◽  
Jens Plag ◽  
Alexander Schmidt
Keyword(s):  
Behavioral Therapy ◽  
Beta Blockers ◽  
Music Performance ◽  
Performance Anxiety ◽  
Emotional Symptoms ◽  
Professional Musicians ◽  
Music Performance Anxiety ◽  
High Distress ◽  
Control Loss ◽  
Preventive Methods

Abstract. Musicians suffering from music performance anxiety (MPA) fear and/or avoid performing situations. While performing, they often experience physiological (like increased heart rate or sweating), cognitive (for example fear of control loss), behavioral (like making mistakes or avoiding performances) and emotional symptoms (mostly fear) leading to high distress. About a quarter of all professional musicians suffer from MPA. In studies, cognitive behavioral therapy and beta blockers were effective options for treating MPA. Other treatments and preventive methods are presented.

scholarly journals Music performance anxiety in classical musicians – what we know about what works

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 33-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raluca Matei ◽  
Jane Ginsborg
Keyword(s):  
Musical Training ◽  
Music Performance ◽  
Performance Anxiety ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Music Performance Anxiety ◽  
Performance Quality ◽  
What Works ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Research Resources

When pursued professionally, the demands of musical training and performance can interfere with musicians' well-being and health. Music performance anxiety, while energising at optimal levels, impairs performance quality when excessive. A range of interventions has been explored to address it. However, the poor methodological quality of such studies and the complexity of this issue should mobilise further research resources in this direction.

Effects of Meditation on Music Performance Anxiety

2003 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 126-130
Author(s):  
Joanne C Chang ◽  
Elizabeth Midlarsky ◽  
Peter Lin
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
State Anxiety ◽  
Music Performance ◽  
Performance Anxiety ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Music Performance Anxiety ◽  
School Of Music ◽  
Meditation Group ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Manhattan School Of Music

This study investigated the effect of meditation on music performance anxiety. Participants were 19 students between the ages of 18 and 41 yrs, who were recruited from the Manhattan School of Music, Mannes College of Music, Yale University School of Music, and State University of New York at Purchase. The experimental group received a series of eight meditation classes, and the control group received no meditation training. After the 8-week training period, all performed in a concert. Pretests and post-tests of music performance anxiety were given and post-tests of state anxiety and of performance concentration. Performance anxiety decreased among participants in the meditation group, in contrast to participants in the control group, whose performance anxiety did not decrease. Differences in regard to post-test state anxiety and performance concentration were not significant. An additional benefit of meditation was a reported increase in relaxation pleasure even in the period immediately before the performance. Results indicate that meditation may be a useful tool for aiding performers to combat performance anxiety.

Are music performance anxiety and performance boost perceived as extremes of the same continuum?

2013 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 171-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Veerle L. Simoens ◽  
Sampsa Puttonen ◽  
Mari Tervaniemi
Keyword(s):  
Music Performance ◽  
Performance Anxiety ◽  
Music Performance Anxiety ◽  
And Performance

scholarly journals What Does it Take to Flow? Investigating Links Between Grit, Growth Mindset, and Flow in Musicians

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 205920432198952
Author(s):  
Jasmine Tan ◽  
Kelly Yap ◽  
Joydeep Bhattacharya
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Musical Training ◽  
Music Performance ◽  
Performance Anxiety ◽  
Growth Mindset ◽  
Hierarchical Regression ◽  
Music Performance Anxiety ◽  
Dispositional Flow ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Experience Of Flow

While it may seem effortless for great musicians to deliver beautiful works of art, little is known about the hard work behind these performances. Musicians require grit to sustain effort over many years of training but flow can sweeten this experience. Growth mindset, referring to the belief that ability is malleable, is often related to grit and has been theorized to be conducive to flow. Self-identified musicians, between 18 and 57 years of age ( N = 162), participated in an online survey investigating the potential links between grit, growth mindset, and dispositional flow. Correlational analyses revealed that grit was a significant predictor of flow but no correlations between growth mindset and grit or flow were found. Furthermore, a hierarchical regression analysis taking into account participants’ musical training, personality traits, and performance anxiety found that grit did not predict dispositional flow over and above what can be predicted by practice hours and music performance anxiety. Altogether, these findings offer a closer look at the effects of the non-cognitive factors of growth mindset and grit on the experience of flow in music performance.

scholarly journals An investigation of relationships between Flow Theory and music performance anxiety

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Li Li
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Music Performance ◽  
Performance Anxiety ◽  
Flow Theory ◽  
Theoretical Framework ◽  
Flow Experience ◽  
Four Dimensions ◽  
Music Performance Anxiety ◽  
Performance Time ◽  
And Performance

This dissertation comprises three projects designed to investigate the relationship between flow and music performance anxiety and using flow to alleviate music performance anxiety. One investigation is a comprehensive literature review on flow theory and music performance anxiety. The literature review showed that flow and music performance anxiety were negatively correlated, and that facilitating flow can provide a powerful tool to reduce music performance anxiety. The second investigation is a quantitative study aimed to explore relationships between flow and music performance anxiety, which involves seventy-five participants from different music majors and education levels. Data were collected by questionnaires. Results indicated that items from four dimensions of flow (clear goals, unambiguous feedback, autotelic experience, and loss of self-consciousness) were most significantly and negatively correlated with MPA, and that strategies related to these four dimensions items may help to reduce MPA. Gender, age, education level, major, and performance form had no direct impact on flow experience, while performance time and performance frequency were significantly positively correlated with one flow dimension (unambiguous feedback). Educational level was positively correlated, and performance time and performance were negatively correlated, with MPA items. Music performers could benefit by practicing more to prepare for their performances, especially for the soloists. The third investigation is a qualitative study aimed to provide a theoretical framework for facilitating flow and reducing music performance anxiety. Data were collected by seven interviews, and ground theory method was used in the analysis. Based on this analysis, a theoretical framework for facilitating flow and reducing music performance anxiety was generated, which included three themes: preparation of performers, modeling by teachers, and construction of flow experience.

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