Tuning into musicians’ wellbeing: Research on music performance anxiety (MPA)

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Tuning into musicians' wellbeing: Research on music performance anxiety (MPA) The Music and Mental Health Research Clinic (MMHRC) at the University of Ottawa's Institute of Mental Health Research (IMHR) at The Royal is investigating how to reduce music performance anxiety (MPA) and the benefits of specific coping strategies for musicians. The audience cheers, and smiles are on every face. The music performance was incredible; it emotionally moved the audience, got their toes tapping, and made them forget their worries. On the other hand, the musicians are thinking about the note they missed or their tempo not being quite perfect. The audience does not see the musicians worrying before the performance, the state of anxiety during the performance, or the negative rumination that will occur afterwards. Biologically wired with an innate tendency to default to negative assumptions to avoid dangerous situations, our bodies react to stressors as if our lives are at stake (Baumeister, 2001; Rozin & Royzman, 2001; Ito & Cacioppo, 2005). This negativity bias is a key reason why changing our habits, behaviours, and thought patterns is so challenging. It often results in automatic negative thoughts, such as underestimating available opportunities and resources, and increased sensitivity to perceived threats.