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

Methods for overcoming pre-performance jittersNotes from the Green Room explains the causes of musical performance anxiety and suggests methods for dealing with it effectively. The authors show how proper preparation?as well as techniques such as learning experiments, relaxation training, tension management, and graded exposure to groups of various sizes?can relieve the compulsion that often accompanies an individual's performance. An essential resource for musicians at any level.

PAUL G. SALMON is an associate professor of clinical psychology at the University of Louisville, director of clinical research at the Genesis Center, and a professional musician. ROBERT G. MEYER is a professor of psychology at the University of Louisville.