Facing the fear: a narrative review on the potential of pressure training in music

Music performance anxiety (MPA) is one of the most reported psychological problems among musicians, posing a significant threat to the optimal performance, health, and psychological wellbeing of musicians. Most research on MPA treatment has focused on reducing symptoms of performance anxiety, but co...

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Main Authors: Nicky de Bie, Yannick Hill, J. R. (Rob) Pijpers, Raôul R. D. Oudejans
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2024-12-01
Series:Frontiers in Psychology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1501014/full
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author Nicky de Bie
Yannick Hill
Yannick Hill
Yannick Hill
Yannick Hill
J. R. (Rob) Pijpers
J. R. (Rob) Pijpers
J. R. (Rob) Pijpers
Raôul R. D. Oudejans
Raôul R. D. Oudejans
Raôul R. D. Oudejans
Raôul R. D. Oudejans
author_facet Nicky de Bie
Yannick Hill
Yannick Hill
Yannick Hill
Yannick Hill
J. R. (Rob) Pijpers
J. R. (Rob) Pijpers
J. R. (Rob) Pijpers
Raôul R. D. Oudejans
Raôul R. D. Oudejans
Raôul R. D. Oudejans
Raôul R. D. Oudejans
author_sort Nicky de Bie
collection DOAJ
description Music performance anxiety (MPA) is one of the most reported psychological problems among musicians, posing a significant threat to the optimal performance, health, and psychological wellbeing of musicians. Most research on MPA treatment has focused on reducing symptoms of performance anxiety, but complete “cures” are uncommon. A promising addition or alternative that may help musicians enhance their performance under pressure, despite their anxiety, is pressure training (PT). In other high-pressure domains, such as sports and police work, pressure training has been proven effective in reducing choking and enhancing performance quality under pressure. Therefore, the aim of this narrative review is to explore the potential of pressure training in music settings. Specifically, we first provide a theoretical overview of current models explaining performance declines due to anxiety. Second, we discuss the current state of research on the effectiveness and application of pressure training in sports and police work as well as recent developments in pressure training interventions for music settings. While there is a limited number of studies investigating the effectiveness of pressure training on musicians' performance quality, research focusing on musicians' experiences has shown that pressure training can be particularly beneficial for enhancing performance skills, preparing for performances, and managing performance anxiety. Based on the reviewed literature, the final section points out suggestions for future research as well as recommendations for musicians, teachers, and music institutions for practical applications.
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spelling doaj-art-cc770fb950d646ea8bc38d7a4834b8e52025-08-20T02:38:19ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782024-12-011510.3389/fpsyg.2024.15010141501014Facing the fear: a narrative review on the potential of pressure training in musicNicky de Bie0Yannick Hill1Yannick Hill2Yannick Hill3Yannick Hill4J. R. (Rob) Pijpers5J. R. (Rob) Pijpers6J. R. (Rob) Pijpers7Raôul R. D. Oudejans8Raôul R. D. Oudejans9Raôul R. D. Oudejans10Raôul R. D. Oudejans11Department of Human Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, NetherlandsDepartment of Human Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, NetherlandsAmsterdam Movement Sciences, Amsterdam, NetherlandsInstitute of Brain and Behaviour, Amsterdam, NetherlandsLyda Hill Institute for Human Resilience, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, CO, United StatesDepartment of Human Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, NetherlandsAmsterdam Movement Sciences, Amsterdam, NetherlandsInstitute of Brain and Behaviour, Amsterdam, NetherlandsDepartment of Human Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, NetherlandsAmsterdam Movement Sciences, Amsterdam, NetherlandsInstitute of Brain and Behaviour, Amsterdam, NetherlandsCenter of Expertise Urban Vitality, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, Amsterdam, NetherlandsMusic performance anxiety (MPA) is one of the most reported psychological problems among musicians, posing a significant threat to the optimal performance, health, and psychological wellbeing of musicians. Most research on MPA treatment has focused on reducing symptoms of performance anxiety, but complete “cures” are uncommon. A promising addition or alternative that may help musicians enhance their performance under pressure, despite their anxiety, is pressure training (PT). In other high-pressure domains, such as sports and police work, pressure training has been proven effective in reducing choking and enhancing performance quality under pressure. Therefore, the aim of this narrative review is to explore the potential of pressure training in music settings. Specifically, we first provide a theoretical overview of current models explaining performance declines due to anxiety. Second, we discuss the current state of research on the effectiveness and application of pressure training in sports and police work as well as recent developments in pressure training interventions for music settings. While there is a limited number of studies investigating the effectiveness of pressure training on musicians' performance quality, research focusing on musicians' experiences has shown that pressure training can be particularly beneficial for enhancing performance skills, preparing for performances, and managing performance anxiety. Based on the reviewed literature, the final section points out suggestions for future research as well as recommendations for musicians, teachers, and music institutions for practical applications.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1501014/fullanxietyexposurelearningperformancestressresilience
spellingShingle Nicky de Bie
Yannick Hill
Yannick Hill
Yannick Hill
Yannick Hill
J. R. (Rob) Pijpers
J. R. (Rob) Pijpers
J. R. (Rob) Pijpers
Raôul R. D. Oudejans
Raôul R. D. Oudejans
Raôul R. D. Oudejans
Raôul R. D. Oudejans
Facing the fear: a narrative review on the potential of pressure training in music
Frontiers in Psychology
anxiety
exposure
learning
performance
stress
resilience
title Facing the fear: a narrative review on the potential of pressure training in music
title_full Facing the fear: a narrative review on the potential of pressure training in music
title_fullStr Facing the fear: a narrative review on the potential of pressure training in music
title_full_unstemmed Facing the fear: a narrative review on the potential of pressure training in music
title_short Facing the fear: a narrative review on the potential of pressure training in music
title_sort facing the fear a narrative review on the potential of pressure training in music
topic anxiety
exposure
learning
performance
stress
resilience
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1501014/full
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