ABSTRACT
Performing music involves a complex set of abilities commonly recognized by both professional and amateur musicians (Barbar, de Souza Crippa, & de Lima Osorio, 2014; Cooper, 1989; Kemenade, Son, & Heesch, 1995; LeBlanc, Jin, Obert, & Siivola, 1997; Osborne, Kenny, & Holsomback, 2005). Music performance anxiety (MPA) is defined as increases in anxiousness and nervousness related to musical performances, often leading to a combination of symptoms in the affective, cognitive, semantic, and behavioral domains (Studer, Danuser, Hildebrandt, Arial, Wild, & Gomez, 2012). Physical effects of MPA may range from mild symptoms, such as increased heart rate (Ryan, 1998; Wells, Outhred, Heathers, Quintana, & Kemp, 2012), to severe symptoms, including hyperventilation, panic, and terror (Fishbein, Middlestadt, Ottati, Straus, & Ellis, 1988; Powell, 2004; Studer et al., 2012).
