Programa de Doutoramento em Música e Musicologia
Music performance anxiety among classical musicians: Strategies for improving performance and applications for classic guitarists
André Rafael Tempera

Orientadores: Ana Telles Béreau e Joaquim Reis
Music performance anxiety (MPA) is experienced in varying degrees of intensity by most, if not all, musicians. It is particularly heightened in a classical music environment and if not addressed properly, it may cause significant harm to the careers and even wellbeing of individuals. Performers and teachers usually develop their own valid coping strategies through years of practical experience, but often lack a theoretical understanding of MPA and its mechanisms, considering it to be an insurmountable and career ending affliction. There are several articles and books addressing different aspects of this subject, and this knowledge can be utilized to develop practice and coping strategies, that incorporate practical and scientific information. This integration should be of special interest to the classical musician community in several aspects of performance and pedagogy, and particularly, for the future generations of musicians who often feel are not being adequately prepared for the reality of a performing career. Differentiating factors such as personality, age and gender are related to the way individuals perceive and experience performance anxiety. Another, somewhat understudied relation, is how the specificities of each instrumentalist affect, and are affected by MPA. By characterizing classical guitarists and their particularities, it is possible to ascertain if this sub-group of musicians has specific needs, and which are the best approaches for them to address music performance anxiety issues. This  issertation attempts to improve classical musicians’ understanding of MPA and will hopefully contribute to a more effective approach to this issue within the community.
Keywords: music, performance, psychology, anxiety, coping.