An Academic Overview of Music Performance Anxiety (two-part course)
Monday 23rd September 2024, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM (London Time)
Tuesday 24th September 2024, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM (London Time)
This course aims to provide an academic overview of the research on Music Performance Anxiety. It will trace its evolution and document the seminal studies that have shaped our understanding and training approaches. It will cover:
- The definition of MPA and its impact on our understanding
- The symptoms of MPA and the implications for both student and teacher
- The causes of MPA and exacerbating factors, including perfectionism
- A brief overview of the treatment strategies and the role of the teacher in mitigating the debilitating impact of MPA
- A review of the emerging research in support of Acceptance & Commitment Coaching (ACT) as a promising non-clinical intervention for addressing MPA for use with Voice & instrumental teachers.
It is designed for practitioners who are interested in building their knowledge of the theoretical framework that drives both our understanding and practical responses.
Dr David Juncos
David Juncos, PsyD, is a clinical psychologist, lecturer, performance coach, author, and music performance researcher based in Philadelphia, PA. He has 20 years of experience in treating a variety of clinical problems, including anxiety, mood, and substance use disorders.
Sorry, this is an archived short course...
We have plenty of upcoming short courses coming soon. See details of some of them below or look at the full list of short courses.
Tuesday 17th February 2026
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
(London Time)
Simultaneous Singing and Dancing in Musical Theatre: A Cross-Disciplinary Evidence Review
Debbie Winter
Dr Claire Thomas
This short course invites participants to critically examine the latest cross-disciplinary evidence on the physical and vocal demands of musical theatre performance. Drawing on a comprehensive literature review conducted by Debbie Winter and Claire Thomas (Voice Study Centre, University of Essex), the course explores research from voice science, dance medicine, sports science, and performance pedagogy.
Thursday 19th February 2026
8:30 AM - 10:30 AM
(London Time)
It’s not a virus! Reconceptualizing and De-pathologizing Music Performance Anxiety
Rebecca Herman
Performance Anxiety is one of the most widespread and debilitating challenges facing musicians across all ages, nationalities and musical genres. Despite decades of research and the development of numerous interventions, we do not yet have an established way of supporting performers experiencing performance anxiety. Aimed at performers, teachers, researchers and students, this presentation will first summarise the current state of play in performance anxiety research, before exploring alternative ways to think about performance anxiety, drawing on new research outside of performance psychology...
Thursday 19th February 2026
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Thursday 26th February 2026
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
(London Time)
Performing Pain: Vocal Health in Emotional Roles!
Louisa Morgan
How connected are acted emotions to our real-life emotions? Are they expressed differently? Do they feel different in the body? This 2-part course with Louisa Morgan looks at the potential impact of acted emotion on vocal health, why we should consider it as voice practitioners, and how to care for our performers needing to work with it.