Anxiety and Music Performance

Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey. It will take a few minutes to complete.

Please take your time to respond thoughtfully and as thoroughly as possible to the following questions. We will use your responses, as well as other data we will gather, to publish an interesting, informative article on the Virtual Sheet Music website in the coming months. Your time and insights are very much appreciated!

Thank you again!

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* 1. About how often do you play your primary instrument for an audience?

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* 2. Please rate your anxiety when faced with the following repertoire related situations while playing your primary instrument for an audience:

  Not at all anxious A little bit anxious Moderately anxious Very anxious N/A
When the music is easy for my skill level I feel...
When the music is challenging for my skill level I feel...
When the music is just right for my skill level I feel...
When I have the music memorized I feel...
When I read the sheet music during the performance I feel...
When my performance is on-the-fly and spontaneous I feel...
When I make a mistake while I'm performing I feel...
When my performance is being video- or audio-recorded or streamed live on the internet I feel…

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* 3. Please rate your anxiety when faced with the following audience related situations while playing your primary instrument for an audience:

  Not at all anxious A little bit anxious Moderately anxious Very anxious N/A
When I can see my audience I feel...
When I cannot see my audience I feel...
When family and friends are in the audience I feel...
When the audience is all strangers (as far as I know) I feel...
When my teacher is present for a performance I feel...
When my teacher is not present for a performance I feel...
When the audience is knowledgeable about the music I am performing I feel...
When the audience is not knowledgeable about the music I am performing I feel...
When my students are in the audience I feel...
When the audience appears attentive I feel...
When the audience appears inattentive and disinterested I feel...

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* 4. Please rate your anxiety when faced with the following venue related situations while playing your primary instrument for an audience:

  Not at all anxious A little bit anxious Moderately anxious Very anxious N/A
When the venue is familiar to me I feel...
When the venue is unfamiliar to me I feel...

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* 5. Please rate your anxiety when faced with the following situations while playing your primary instrument for an audience:

  Not at all anxious A little bit anxious Moderately anxious Very anxious N/A
When I have to perform while other aspects of my life are stressful, I feel…
When I am playing alongside musicians with whom I have never played before I feel...
When I am playing with a group with whom I have played in the past I feel...
When I am the featured performer (either for part or the entirety of a performance) I feel...
When I am one of many performers and not featured as a soloist I feel...
When I am auditioning to play with a group I feel…
When I am competing against other musicians for awards or titles I feel...

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* 6. Please rate your overall level of confidence in your ability to play your primary instrument from 0 (not at all confident) to 10 (very confident)

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* 7. Please describe what it feels like, for you, when you are anxious in a music performance setting - physically, emotionally, spiritually, psychologically, musically, etc. Be as detailed and as descriptive as you can.

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* 8. What helps (or has helped) you reduce or manage anxiety for music performance? Please be as detailed as possible.

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* 9. Please share any additional thoughts you have about anxiety and "stage fright" in music.

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