A STUDY OF MUSIC PERFORMANCE ANXIETY AMONGST CLASSICALMUSICPERFORMERS IN SELECTED HIGHER INSTITUTIONS OF LEARNINGINLAGOS STATE

Abstract

The study was designed to study the cause and effects of music performance anxiety among classical musicians in selected music institutions in Lagos. Music performance anxiety can be explained to mean any medical, psychological or musical conditions that can lead to a performance breakdown. Research has shown that performance anxiety are more prevalent among amateur performers and far less prevalent among professionals. This study aims at providing possible solutions to the to music performance anxiety. Since this study is qualitative in nature, data for this study were gathered through one-to-one and virtually interviews methods. While secondary data were gotten from the library and from the internet based materials. In line with the objectives of the study, the following findings were made. First, that poor musical performances can be caused by three major factors. Namely medical, psychological and musical factors; inadequate preparation, lack of synergy between the performer and the accompanist, poor acoustic value or weak acoustic settings, etc. secondly, that the categories of musicians that are affected by the effects of performance anxiety are most the amateur musicians who are yet to find or gain mastery of the instruments and arts. Thirdly, the following are solutions were suggested to young music one way of the other suffer the effect of MPA. They should cultivate the habit of adequate practice before performance, practice where they would see people or where people will see them regularly, practice self-psyching, know their health status and talk to people regularly about their fears concerning their performances. The study recommends that music performance anxiety should be included in the curriculum and taught to both fresh and intermediate performers.