Notes from the Green Room: Coping With Stress and Anxiety in Musical Performance

Almost everyone who sings or plays a musical instrument gets nervous when having to perform in public, whether in school, at a church recital, before friends and guests, or before a paying public who expects an absolutely top-notch performance. In a recent survey of the music department at a midwestern university, two-thirds of the students experienced significant levels of performance anxiety, and virtually none of them knew what to do about it.Notes from the Green Room explains the causes of musical performance anxiety and suggests ways to deal with them effectively. Salmon and Meyer draw on cognitive and behavioral psychology to show how proper preparation as well as techniques such as learning experiments, relaxation training, tension management, graded exposure to groups of various sizes, and self-criticism can relieve the compulsion that often accompanies an individual's musical performance. Achievement as a performer at all levels can be aided by access to educational, medical, and psychological resources that, when coupled with genuine ability and hard work, can help performers refine their skills, cope with stress more effectively, and generally limit the probability of physical or psychological impairments both on- and offstage.Notes from the Green Room merges contemporary psychological theories of stress and anxiety with a consideration of the pragmatic aspects of becoming an effective performer. Many of the techniques and ideas described throughout the book were developed in conjunction with clients who have participated in the performance skills program at the University of Louisville. This book will be essential to the performances of musicians at any level - from church organist to world-class operatic soloist.