Performance anxiety in young contemporary musicians

Abstract

Most research on music performance anxiety has focused on classical musicians and those being trained in the classical genre. Few studies have considered the performance experiences of contemporary musicians. The purpose of the present study was to extend the literature base by focusing the lens squarely on young contemporary musicians. Students (n=202) at a large, contemporary music college completed a questionnaire pertaining to their performance experiences, anxiety, training and coping strategies, as well as the Kenny Music Performance Anxiety Inventory-revised (2009). Results indicate that performance anxiety is a common experience among young, contemporary musicians. Females reported greater anxiety than males and solo performances elicited more anxiety than group. Coping strategies tended to be holistic in nature. Comparison with a previously examined group of classical musicians indicates similarities in factor structure, with some key differences that may distinguish between performance genres.