Tagung der österreichischen Gesellschaft für Musikmedizin

Im Rahmen der diesjährigen Tagung der österreichischen Gesellschaft für Musikmedizin halte ich einen Workshop zum Thema:

„Mindfulness as a way of dealing with Music Performance Anxiety“

Performing music on stage is among the most demanding activities a person can experience. The fear of social exposure and its accompanying effects are well known as major challenges for professional musicians.
This workshop explores the extent to which the regular practice of mindfulness and self-compassion can help musicians cope with stage fright and performance anxiety (Music Performance Anxiety – MPA). The causes of MPA will be outlined, with social exposure, lack of concentration and cognitive clarity, and excessive perfectionism identified as key contributing factors. Somatic, affective, and cognitive reactions will be briefly described.
Drawing on his dual expertise as a musician and mindfulness teacher, Peter Gabis developed a 12-week Mindfulness Programme for Musicians, which has been implemented several times as a university course at the Jam Music Lab University in Vienna, a private university in Vienna specializing in Jazz and Popular Music, Media Music, and Arts Management. The collected data provide a basis for evaluating the programme’s theoretical foundations. Participants completed a specifically designed stress test before and after the intervention, accompanied by 24-hour heart rate variability measurements. These physiological data were complemented by phenomenological observations derived from students’ final theses and follow-up interviews conducted four months after the intervention, and were analyzed qualitatively.
Based on the findings, it can be assumed that the cultivation of mindfulness and self-compassion offers a valuable contribution to managing on-stage stress and enhancing overall well-being. In the workshop, participants will engage in simple practical exercises that provide an experiential introduction to the 12-week Mindfulness Programme for Musicians.