A Hidden Struggle
Performance anxiety can be a lonely experience. You might look around you and get the impression that everyone else is relaxed, confident and in control. Perhaps you also feel the need to communicate this image to the outside world, even if on the inside your anxiety levels are high.
In my experience, professional musicians rarely discuss performance anxiety and it can sometimes feel as though you’re the only one who is struggling.
That’s why I included four little words on my homepage, that communicate an important message:
You are not alone.
Studies suggest that around 15-25% of musicians experience severe and persistent performance anxiety, while up to 70% experience variable levels of anxiety that can sometimes affect their performances [1].
A major research project in Australia has also suggested that more than 30% of professional orchestral musicians use beta blockers to manage the problematic physical symptoms that can interfere with performance [2]. In my own study about musicians and beta blockers, some people reported feeling embarrassed or ashamed of their anxiety and going to great lengths to keep it hidden [3].
Perhaps knowing this might help to put things in perspective and give a sense of what’s actually going on for others, rather than what we perceive from the outside. Performance anxiety can affect musicians of all levels and at all stages of their careers. It’s time to let go of any sense of embarrassment, shame, or feelings of inadequacy that we might be holding on to, and to focus instead on the steps we can take to move towards inner confidence, improved wellbeing and performance freedom.
I’d love to support you on your own journey with performance anxiety. Don’t hesitate to get in touch, if you think I might be able to help.
References:
Kenny, D. (2011). The psychology of Music Performance Anxiety. Oxford: Oxford University Press
Kenny, D., Driscoll, T. & Ackermann, B. (2014). Psychological well-being in professional orchestral musicians in Australia: A descriptive population study. Psychology of Music, 42 (2), 210-232
Marsh, M. (2017). The use of beta blockers to control music performance anxiety (MPA): an exploratory study with professional musicians. MA dissertation, University of Sheffield.