Imagery-Based Interventions for Music Performance Anxiety: An Integrative Review

2016 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 222-231 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine Finch ◽  
David A Moscovitch
Keyword(s):  
Mental Imagery ◽  
Music Performance ◽  
Performance Anxiety ◽  
Relaxation Techniques ◽  
Professional Musicians ◽  
Treatment Protocols ◽  
Music Performance Anxiety ◽  
Frequent Use ◽  
Treatment Research ◽  
Symptom Changes

Many musicians experience debilitating music performance anxiety (MPA). Outside music performance, imagery-based interventions have been incorporated into treatment protocols to help individuals, including athletes and those with social anxiety, manage heightened levels of anxiety in order to excel in performance-based domains. Despite the frequent use of mental imagery in MPA interventions and its importance as a mental rehearsal technique for musicians, no existing reviews have examined the literature on imagery-based interventions for MPA. The primary aim of this review was to analyze the existing MPA literature in order to summarize what is known about the efficacy and mechanisms of pre-performance mental imagery exercises. A literature search yielded eight studies that used imagery-based interventions for MPA, in both student and professional musicians, which included three dissertations and five peer-reviewed journal articles. In extant MPA treatment research, pre-performance imagery is often used in conjunction with other techniques in order to alleviate anxiety. Arousal imagery refers to imagining one’s state of arousal during performance and has been incorporated into MPA interventions in various ways that guide musicians to anticipate the heightened arousal that accompanies performance, predominantly through imagery-based relaxation techniques. However, methodological limitations make it impossible to determine whether imagery is itself an active ingredient of treatment that underlies symptom changes, or whether relaxation imagery is the most effective use of pre-performance imagery for all musicians. There is much need for future well-controlled studies to examine whether and how imagery affects MPA independent of the other therapy components and techniques with which it is commonly combined.

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.

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).

Current Approaches for Management of Music Performance Anxiety: An Introductory Overview

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-60
Author(s):  
Katie Zhukov
Keyword(s):  
Music Therapy ◽  
Prescription Drugs ◽  
Music Performance ◽  
Performance Anxiety ◽  
Physical Symptoms ◽  
Research Literature ◽  
Relaxation Techniques ◽  
Cognitive Symptoms ◽  
Music Performance Anxiety ◽  
Breathing Exercises

Music performance anxiety (MPA) is a complex area with many individual factors contributing to the level of anxiety experienced by musicians during live performances. This paper provides an overview of research literature on performance anxiety, intended for music teachers, students, and professional musicians, to highlight strategies that have been suggested to manage the accompanying physical and cognitive symptoms. Treatment of MPA includes mindfulness-based approaches, physiological/physically-based therapies, cognitive/behavioural therapies, prescribed medication, music therapy, and psychotherapy. The most popular approaches for managing the physical symptoms are relaxation techniques, in particular, deep breathing exercises, yoga, and meditation. Other strategies include Alexander technique, bio- and neuro-feedback, healthy lifestyle, and prescription drugs. Self-handicapping and perfectionism are some of the examples of negative behaviours in musicians. Management of cognitive symptoms of MPA includes cognitive restructuring, realistic goal-setting, systematic desensitisation, music therapy, and/or psychotherapy. Combining behavioural techniques with cognitive therapy strategies appears to be the most promising approach among interventions aimed at reducing MPA and improving the quality of music performance. Cautious interpretation of the efficacy of interventions is needed due to methodological weaknesses of some research, and this overview of current approaches is intended to facilitate understanding for those less familiar with this topic.

scholarly journals Kenny Music Performance Anxiety Inventory (K-MPAI): Exploratory Factor Analysis of the Ukrainian version

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 39-44
Author(s):  
Olena Ksondzyk
Keyword(s):  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Exploratory Factor Analysis ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Music Performance ◽  
Temporal Stability ◽  
Performance Anxiety ◽  
Validity And Reliability ◽  
Professional Musicians ◽  
Music Performance Anxiety ◽  
Relationship Context

Introduction: Music performance anxiety (MPA) is one of the most common psychological problems among musicians, regardless of their age, gender or level of stage experience. Since empirical studies of this subject are just emerging in Ukraine, there is a lack of psychometrically valid instruments for measuring it. Many specific instruments are available to evaluate MPA in English, but they have to be adapted for the Ukrainian population. One of such significant psychodiagnostic tools is the Kenny Music Performance Anxiety Inventory (K-MPAI) used for different cultural contexts. Purpose: The aim of this research is to study the factor structure of the Ukrainian version of K-MPAI. Methodology: In order to assess the K-MPAI’s linguistic and conceptual equivalence, the questionnaire was translated using blind back-translation method. Thereafter, the sample of 252 professional musicians (aged 19–66, M = 38, SD = 11.24; 59% women and 41% men) completed the K-MPAI. Results: An exploratory factor analysis with principal axis factoring and oblimin rotation method was performed based on the K-MPAI items. The optimal implementation of parallel analysis revealed three factors that explain 44.99 % of variance; they are named “proximal performance concerns”, “early relationship context”, and “psychological vulnerability”. The internal consistency of the Ukrainian version of K-МPAI presents excellent value with Cronbach’s alpha of 0.871 and high temporal stability (r = .84; p<0.001). Discussion & Conclusions: These findings demonstrate evidence of construct validity and reliability of the Ukrainian version of K-MPAI and partially support the theoretical model that became the basis for the development of the original measure. This questionnaire can be used as a valid tool to assess MPA in Ukrainian scientific research

scholarly journals How does music performance anxiety relate to other anxiety disorders?

2021 ◽  
pp. 030573562098860
Author(s):  
Anna Wiedemann ◽  
Daniel Vogel ◽  
Catharina Voss ◽  
Jana Hoyer
Keyword(s):  
Cluster Analysis ◽  
Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Anxiety Disorders ◽  
Graphical Model ◽  
Music Performance ◽  
Performance Anxiety ◽  
Separation Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Systematic Analysis ◽  
Music Performance Anxiety ◽  
Dsm 5

Music performance anxiety (MPA) is considered a social anxiety disorder (SAD). Recent conceptualizations, however, challenge existing MPA definitions, distinguishing MPA from SAD. In this study, we aim to provide a systematic analysis of MPA interdependencies to other anxiety disorders through graphical modeling and cluster analysis. Participants were 82 music students ( Mage = 23.5 years, SD = 3.4 years; 69.5% women) with the majority being vocal (30.5%), string (24.4%), or piano (19.5%) students. MPA was measured using the German version of the Kenny Music Performance Anxiety Inventory (K-MPAI). All participants were tested for anxiety-related symptoms using the disorder-specific anxiety measures of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed., DSM-5), including agoraphobia (AG), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder (PD), separation anxiety disorder (SEP), specific phobia (SP), SAD, and illness anxiety disorder (ILL). We found no evidence of MPA being primarily connected to SAD, finding GAD acted as a full mediator between MPA and any other anxiety type. Our graphical model remained unchanged considering severe cases of MPA only (K-MPAI ⩾ 105). By means of cluster analysis, we identified two participant sub-groups of differing anxiety profiles. Participants with pathological anxiety consistently showed more severe MPA. Our findings suggest that GAD is the strongest predictor for MPA among all major DSM-5 anxiety types.

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