Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-l7hp2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-27T11:32:17.660Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

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

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Raluca Matei
Affiliation:
Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester, UK, email [email protected]
Jane Ginsborg
Affiliation:
Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester, UK, email [email protected]
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

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.

Type
Thematic Paper
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BYCreative Common License - NCCreative Common License - ND
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits noncommercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is unaltered and is properly cited. The written permission of Cambridge University Press must be obtained for commercial re-use or in order to create a derivative work.
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2017

References

American Psychiatric Association (2013) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th edn) (DSM-5). American Psychiatric Publishing.Google Scholar
Aufegger, L., Perkins, R., Wasley, D., et al (2016) Musicians' perceptions and experiences of using simulation training to develop performance skills. Psychology of Music, advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/0305735616666940.Google Scholar
Bissonnette, J., Dube, F., Provencher, M. D., et al (2015) Virtual reality exposure training for musicians: its effect on performance anxiety and quality. Medical Problems of Performing Artists, 30, 169177.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Brodsky, W. (1996) Music performance anxiety reconceptualised: a critique of current research practices and findings. Medical Problems of Performing Artists, 3, 8898.Google Scholar
Brooks, A. W. (2014) Get excited: reappraising pre-performance anxiety as excitement. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 143, 11441158.Google Scholar
Brugués, A. O. (2011) Music performance anxiety – part 2. A review of treatment options. Medical Problems of Performing Artists, 26, 164171.Google Scholar
Fancourt, D., Aufegger, L. & Williamon, A. (2015) Low-stress and high-stress singing have contrasting effects on glucocorticoid response. Frontiers in Psychology, 6. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01242.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fishbein, M., Middlestadt, S. E., Ottati, V., et al (1988) Medical problems among ICSOM musicians. Medical Problems of Performing Artists, 3, 18.Google Scholar
Goren, L. (2014) A Meta-analysis of Nonpharmacological Psychotherapies for Music Performance Anxiety . Unpublished doctoral dissertation, California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco, California, USA.Google Scholar
Hatfield, J. L. (2016) Performing at the top of one's musical game. Frontiers in Psychology, 7. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.01356.Google Scholar
Juncos, D. G. & Markman, E. J. (2015) Acceptance and commitment therapy for the treatment of music performance anxiety: a single subject design with a university student. Psychology of Music, advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/0305735615596236.Google Scholar
Kenny, D. T. (2005) A systematic review of treatments for music performance anxiety. Anxiety, Stress, and Coping: An International Journal, 18, 183208. https://doi.org/10.1080/10615800500167258.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kenny, D. T. (2011) The Psychology of Music Performance Anxiety. Oxford University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kenny, D. T., Driscoll, T. & Ackermann, B. (2014) Psychological well-being in professional orchestral musicians in Australia: a descriptive population study. Psychology of Music, 2, 210232.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kenny, D. T., Driscoll, T. R. & Ackermann, B. (2016) Is playing in the pit really the pits? Pain, strength, music performance anxiety, and workplace satisfaction in professional musicians in stage, pit, and combined stage/pit orchestras. Medical Problems of Performing Artists, 31, 17.Google Scholar
McGinnis, A. M. & Milling, L. S. (2005) Psychological treatment of musical performance anxiety: current status and future directions. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research Practice, Training, 42, 357373.Google Scholar
Mesagno, C., Geukes, K. & Larkin, P. (2015) Choking under pressure: a review of current debates, literature, and interventions. In Contemporary Advances in Sport Psychology: A Review (eds Mellalieu, S. & Hanton, S.), pp. 148174. Routledge.Google Scholar
Spahn, C., Walther, J.-C. & Nusseck, M. (2016) The effectiveness of a multimodal concept of audition training for music students in coping with music performance anxiety. Psychology of Music, 4, 893909.Google Scholar
Steyn, B. J. M., Steyn, M. H., Maree, D. J. F., et al (2016) Psychological skills and mindfulness training effects on the psychological wellbeing of undergraduate music students: an exploratory study. Journal of Psychology in Africa, 26, 167171.Google Scholar
Thomas, J. P. & Nettelbeck, T. (2014) Performance anxiety in adolescent musicians. Psychology of Music, 42, 624634.Google Scholar
Vaag, J., Bjorngaard, J. H. & Bjekeset, O. (2016) Use of psychotherapy and psychotropic medication among Norwegian musicians compared to the general workforce. Psychology of Music, advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/0305735616637132.Google Scholar
Wilson, G. D. & Roland, D. (2002) Performance anxiety. In The Science and Psychology of Music Performance: Creative Strategies for Teaching and Learning (eds Parncutt, R. & McPherson, G. E.), pp. 4761. Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Submit a response

eLetters

No eLetters have been published for this article.