Current Trends in Music Performance Anxiety Intervention

Abstract

Music performance anxiety (MPA) is a natural, emotional, and physiological response to the stress of public performance. Debilitating forms of MPA are severe and persistent reactions that go beyond the normal adaptive response to music evaluation situations and can negatively impact the quality of musical performance and the musician’s life in general. Today, it affects numerous professional performers and can result in an inability to practice their profession, posing a significant threat to their professional activity. Despite its scope, studies exploring this issue and contributing to its resolution are scarce. Thus, this review aims to compile the significant advancements made in the last five years (2018–2023) in the treatment of MPA from a scientific perspective. For this purpose, the PRISMA method was used based on the results obtained from the Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases. Reviewed are 10 studies that have made valuable contributions to this matter in this time frame after applying the quality filters using the PRISMA method. It is concluded that, although there are methodological shortcomings and sample limitations in the current research, this field registers advancements that provide valuable information to prevent or solve this problem in professional or aspiring musicians.

Design and Evaluation of a Collective Preventive Program for Musical Performance Anxiety (ConfiDance)

“…The quantity of research with sufficient methodological rigor on the treatment of MPA is notably limited [40][41][42]. Additionally, most of these studies incorporate therapeutic approaches that combine psychological and pharmacological treatments.…”

“…Initially, 71 research articles on MPA were identified in the major academic databases (Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar) over the past five years [42]. Sixty-one of these articles were excluded, while ten of them were thoroughly analyzed.…”

“…According to the review by Gómez-López and Sánchez-Cabrero [42], the treatments used in studies with positive results include (1) pharmacological treatments, such as the use of oxytocin, which improved the cognitive component of MPA, (2) traditional therapies within the field of psychology, such as Acceptance and Commitment Group Therapy (ACT) and its version of Acceptance and Commitment Coaching (ACC), (3) methodologies from Eastern philosophies such as mindfulness [51], (4) mind-body training combined with psychological therapies, cognitive-behavioral therapy exercises, mindfulness exercises, emotional regulation therapy, optimal experience states, and positive psychology, and (5) other proposals such as expressive writing.…”

“…Therefore, it is essential to employ educational and training approaches that assist performers in preventing or, if necessary, intervening to prevent more significant problems once initial symptoms appear, thereby reducing the emotional and functional costs associated [51,52]. However, there are currently no preventive proposals for MPA implemented in educational settings with validated designs based on the scientific literature, as the primary focus of this field has primarily been on improving treatment once symptoms approach levels close to psychopathology [42,53]. These reasons prompted us to make this contribution, aimed at shedding some light on this important issue.…”

Effects of a music-based exercise program on the postural balance and emotions of instrumentalists

“…In terms of psychological health, instrumentalists are more prone to anxiety, stress, and depression. Moreover, various studies have reported that 16%–55% of instrumentalists and undergraduates have music performance anxiety (MPA) ( Gómez-López and Sánchez-Cabrero, 2023 ; Lamontagne and Bélanger, 2015 ). MPA has a negative effect on psychological health through the increase in levels of anxiety and depression.…”