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

Matei, Raluca; Ginsborg, Jane

doi:10.1192/s2056474000001744

Cited by 47 publications

(48 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…Interventions designed to prevent and/or mitigate MPA were reviewed systematically by Burin and Osorio ( 2016 ), see also Matei and Ginsborg ( 2017 ), Spahn et al ( 2016 ), Steyn et al ( 2016 ), and Juncos et al ( 2017 ). Interventions designed to prevent and/or mitigate PRMDs have been evaluated by Ackermann et al ( 2002 ), Chan et al ( 2014a , b ), Kava et al ( 2010 ), and Lee et al ( 2012 ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Health Education for Musicians

et al. 2018

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Context and aims: Many musicians suffer for their art, and health is often compromised during training. The Health Promotion in Schools of Music (HPSM) project has recommended that health education should be included in core curricula, although few such courses have been evaluated to date. The aim of the study was to design, implement and evaluate a compulsory health education course at a UK conservatoire of music.Methods: The course design was informed by a critical appraisal of the literature on musicians' health problems and their management, existing health education courses for musicians, and the HPSM recommendations. It was delivered by a team of appropriately-qualified tutors over 5 months to 104 first-year undergraduate students, and evaluated by means of questionnaires at the beginning and end of the course. Thirty-three students who had been in their first year the year before the course was introduced served as a control group, completing the questionnaire on one occasion only. Items concerned: hearing and use of hearing protection; primary outcomes including perceived knowledge and importance of the topics taught on the course; and secondary outcomes including physical and psychological health and health-promoting behaviors. The content of the essays written by the first-year students as part of their course assessment served as a guide to the topics they found most interesting and relevant.Results: Comparatively few respondents reported using hearing protection when practicing alone, although there was some evidence of hearing loss, tinnitus, and hyperacusis. Perceived knowledge of the topics on the course, and awareness of the risks to health associated with performing music, increased, as did self-efficacy; otherwise, there were negative effects on secondary outcomes, and few differences between the intervention and control groups. The topics most frequently covered in students' essays were managing music performance anxiety, and life skills and behavior change techniques.Conclusion: There is considerable scope for improving music students' physical and psychological health and health-related behaviors through health education, and persuading senior managers, educators and students themselves that health education can contribute to performance enhancement.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Health Education for Musicians

et al. 2018

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“…The high levels of technical skills required of professional musicians place excessive demands in musical training and performance. These can interfere with the well-being and health of musicians (Matei and Ginsborg, 2017). The quality of performance is influenced by the performer's level of expertise and adequacy of preparation, but can be affected by psychological factors, such as self-perceptions, self-efficacy beliefs, and the experience of performance anxiety (Papageorgi et al, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“A Bed of Nails”: Professional Musicians’ Accounts of the Experience of Performance Anxiety From a Phenomenological Perspective

Papageorgi

Welch

2020

Front. Psychol.

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Most investigations of musical performance anxiety have employed quantitative methodologies. Whereas such methodologies can provide useful insights into the measurable aspects of the experience in a larger group of participants, the complexity, subtlety and individuality of the emotional experience and the importance of the individual’s interpretation of it are often overlooked. This study employed a phenomenological approach to investigate the lived, subjective experience of performance anxiety, as described in professional musicians’ narratives. Semi-structured interviews with four professional musicians (two males, two females) specializing in Western classical and jazz music genres were conducted and analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). The analysis revealed the presence of four overarching themes: (1) Intensity of performance anxiety experience, (2) perceived effects, (3) development of coping strategies, and (4) achieving release from anxiety. Findings suggest that the lived experience of performance anxiety is multifaceted, characterized by a physical and a psychological dimension. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis is a useful research tool that can facilitate our understanding of the subjective experience of performance anxiety (how it is felt and understood at an individual level) and can thus be useful in the development of tailor-made intervention programs for musicians.

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“…Consideration needs to be given as to how to address MPA and the perceived critical judgement that may be fuelling it. Models of prevention and treatment exist,25 and cultural change is possible with commitment from all ranks, not least the Chain of Command. Managing the expectations of experienced musicians joining up may address some of the talent versus rank tensions.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sources of occupational stress among the military musicians of the Royal Air Force

Davison¹

2020

BMJ Mil Health

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IntroductionOccupational stress has been studied in the military and among professional musicians but not yet among military musicians. We may speculate that military musicians are subject to military occupational stresses as well as those of the professional musician, but we do not know what the stresses of the role actually are. This study is the first to identify sources of occupational stress and measure the prevalence of music performance anxiety (MPA) among a group of military musicians.MethodsVolunteer musicians were recruited from the UK Royal Air Force (RAF) Music Services and invited to take part in an anonymous online survey that captured demographic information, incorporated the Kenny Music Performance Anxiety Inventory (K-MPAI) and asked an open, free-text question: ‘Thinking about your occupation as an RAF Musician, what causes you to feel stressed?’. Quantitative data were analysed using SPSS. Qualitative data were coded, collated and analysed for themes.Results57 musicians (38% of those eligible) completed the survey. A prevalence of 46% for significant MPA was found. Females scored significantly higher than males. Other stressors were time constraints, the negative judgement of others, musical and military challenges, tensions between musical and military values, issues relating to promotion and existential concerns.ConclusionsMilitary musicians share MPA, career development stressors and conflicts between career and social life as sources of occupational stress with their civilian colleagues. Military stressors include being posted/deployed or compulsory fitness testing. The hierarchical structure of the military brings additional stress when rank and promotion may not be talent based.

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

Cited by 47 publications

References 18 publications

Health Education for Musicians

Health Education for Musicians

“A Bed of Nails”: Professional Musicians’ Accounts of the Experience of Performance Anxiety From a Phenomenological Perspective

Sources of occupational stress among the military musicians of the Royal Air Force

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