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"Att göra ett litet fel är faktiskt inte hela världen." En tematisk analys av sex klassiska musikers perspektiv på prestationsångest

Holmgren, Emma LU (2020) PSPR14 20192
Department of Psychology
Abstract
The aim of the study was to reach a greater understanding of the performance anxiety of classical musicians in connection with musical performances. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six individuals who had an ongoing or completed classical music education at university level. In a thematic analysis, seven themes were identified. Important results were that musical performance was optimal at reasonable levels of performance anxiety (MPA). The type of performance, audience, mastery and difficulty of the piece, and current mood, influenced the strength of MPA. A competitive climate and constant performance demands, increased MPA. MPA was most severe right before a performance. Increased experience of performing and increased... (More)
The aim of the study was to reach a greater understanding of the performance anxiety of classical musicians in connection with musical performances. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six individuals who had an ongoing or completed classical music education at university level. In a thematic analysis, seven themes were identified. Important results were that musical performance was optimal at reasonable levels of performance anxiety (MPA). The type of performance, audience, mastery and difficulty of the piece, and current mood, influenced the strength of MPA. A competitive climate and constant performance demands, increased MPA. MPA was most severe right before a performance. Increased experience of performing and increased skill, together with a more active approach to MPA and increased mental stability, reduced MPA over time. Strategies for managing MPA were mainly directed at cognitive symptoms and used before, during and after a performance. A lack of educating about mental strategies and a culture of silence about MPA in the industry was described. The results suggested that cultural factors within the classical music industry might contribute to uphold and increase MPA. An active approach and increased awareness might reduce MPA. Future research should examine contextual and cultural factors. (Less)
Abstract (Swedish)
Studiens syfte var att uppnå ökad förståelse för prestationsångest hos klassiska musiker i samband med musikaliska framträdanden. Semistrukturerade intervjuer genomfördes med sex personer som genomförde eller hade genomfört klassisk musikalisk utbildning på universitetsnivå. I en tematisk analys identifierades sju teman. Viktiga resultat var att musikalisk prestation beskrevs bäst vid lagom nivå av prestationsångest (MPA). Typ av framträdande, publiken, bemästrande och svårighetsgrad på musikstycket, samt dagsform/mående var faktorer som påverkade styrkan av MPA. Ett konkurrenspräglat klimat och ständiga prestationskrav bidrog till att MPA ökade. MPA beskrevs starkast precis inför ett framträdande för att därefter minska. Ökad erfarenhet... (More)
Studiens syfte var att uppnå ökad förståelse för prestationsångest hos klassiska musiker i samband med musikaliska framträdanden. Semistrukturerade intervjuer genomfördes med sex personer som genomförde eller hade genomfört klassisk musikalisk utbildning på universitetsnivå. I en tematisk analys identifierades sju teman. Viktiga resultat var att musikalisk prestation beskrevs bäst vid lagom nivå av prestationsångest (MPA). Typ av framträdande, publiken, bemästrande och svårighetsgrad på musikstycket, samt dagsform/mående var faktorer som påverkade styrkan av MPA. Ett konkurrenspräglat klimat och ständiga prestationskrav bidrog till att MPA ökade. MPA beskrevs starkast precis inför ett framträdande för att därefter minska. Ökad erfarenhet av att framträda och ökad skicklighet på sitt instrument, samt ett mer aktivt förhållningssätt till MPA och en ökad mental trygghet, bidrog till att MPA minskade över tid. Strategier för att hantera MPA var huvudsakligen riktade mot kognitiva symtom och användes både före, under och efter ett framträdande. En brist på undervisning om mentala strategier och en tystnadskultur kring MPA inom branschen beskrevs. Resultaten antydde att kulturella faktorer inom den klassiska musikbranschen möjligen bidrog till att vidmakthålla och förstärka MPA. Ett aktivt förhållningssätt och ökad medvetenhet skulle kunna minska MPA. Framtida forskning bör undersöka kontextuella och kulturella faktorer. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Holmgren, Emma LU
supervisor
organization
course
PSPR14 20192
year
type
M3 - Professional qualifications ( - 4 Years)
subject
keywords
music performance anxiety, stage-fright, music performance, western classical music, cultural factors, mental strategies, thematic analysis
language
Swedish
id
9004026
date added to LUP
2020-02-05 17:09:31
date last changed
2020-03-25 09:17:59
@misc{9004026,
  abstract     = {{The aim of the study was to reach a greater understanding of the performance anxiety of classical musicians in connection with musical performances. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six individuals who had an ongoing or completed classical music education at university level. In a thematic analysis, seven themes were identified. Important results were that musical performance was optimal at reasonable levels of performance anxiety (MPA). The type of performance, audience, mastery and difficulty of the piece, and current mood, influenced the strength of MPA. A competitive climate and constant performance demands, increased MPA. MPA was most severe right before a performance. Increased experience of performing and increased skill, together with a more active approach to MPA and increased mental stability, reduced MPA over time. Strategies for managing MPA were mainly directed at cognitive symptoms and used before, during and after a performance. A lack of educating about mental strategies and a culture of silence about MPA in the industry was described. The results suggested that cultural factors within the classical music industry might contribute to uphold and increase MPA. An active approach and increased awareness might reduce MPA. Future research should examine contextual and cultural factors.}},
  author       = {{Holmgren, Emma}},
  language     = {{swe}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{"Att göra ett litet fel är faktiskt inte hela världen." En tematisk analys av sex klassiska musikers perspektiv på prestationsångest}},
  year         = {{2020}},
}