Bringing sports into music: a study of music performance anxiety utilizing tools previously studied in sports performance anxiety
Abstract
The current study examined Music Performance Anxiety (MPA) using the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 Revised (CSAI-2R) modified for music and Self-Talk (ST), a technique used to lower performance anxiety. Both of these tools have previously been used primarily in sports performance anxiety. Participants were 24 students from The College of Wooster. The current study examined the relationship between different sub-scales of anxiety (somatic anxiety, cognitive anxiety, and self-confidence), performance quality, and the effect of ST on lowering anxiety and improving anxiety to be more facilitative. Some of these relationships were based upon the multidimensional anxiety theory (MAT). The correlations revealed no significant relationship between self-confidence and either somatic or cognitive anxiety, while somatic and cognitive anxiety had strong positive relationships for both performances, r =.646, p<.01 and r= .651, p<.01. A significant negative relationship was present between cognitive anxiety and professor performance ratings for the first performance, r = -.518, p<.05. Self-confidence also showed a strong positive relationship with student performance ratings, r= .724, p<.05. There was no significant relationship found between somatic anxiety and performance ratings. ST showed no significant main effects on any of the sub-scales of anxiety from performance one to performance two. Results suggest that ST should be investigated with a larger participant pool in the study of MPA. The CSAI-2R should be used more in the study of MPA to determine whether it is a valid measure of MPA. The MAT should be researched more in all arenas.