Vaimse heaolu komponendid muusikuks kujunemise teel. Toimetulek esinemisärevuse ja vaimsete blokkidega Eesti Muusika- ja Teatriakadeemia viiuli-, vioola- ja klaveritudengite hulgas / Components of Mental Well-being on the Path to Becoming a Musician...

Abstract

Teesid: Muusikatudengid puutuvad kokku erialaspetsiifiliste vaimsete ja füüsiliste väljakutsetega. Artiklis tutvustatakse Eesti Muusika- ja Teatriakadeemia viiuli-, vioola- ja klaveritudengite hulgas läbiviidud uuringuid toimetulekust esinemisärevusega ja vaimsete blokkidega. Andmete kogumiseks kasutati ankeetküsitlust ning pianistidele koostati vaimsete blokkide leevendamiseks mõeldud harjutuste pakett. Küsitluse tulemustest selgus, et esinemisärevusega toimetulekuks kasutatakse eri meetodeid, sh etenduskunstidele suunatud kehatöö praktikaid, kuid oodatakse suuremat institutsionaalset tuge seoses vaimse ja füüsilise heaoluga. Regulaarne harjutuste tegemine leevendas pianistide vaimseid blokke ja kujundas uusi positiivseid harjumusi.

Components of Mental Well-being on the Path to Becoming a Musician: How Violin, Viola and Piano Students at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre Cope with Performance Anxiety and Mental Blocks

The profession of musician involves various situations, including individual work (practice) and public performances on stage. Any public performance situation is associated with certain physiological changes caused by the increased levels of neurotransmitters and hormones, including adrenaline, in the body. While some musicians can channel this heightened state of arousal to their advantage and use the elevated energy levels to induce a state of flow (Sinnamon 2021), in many cases, such physiological changes manifest as performance anxiety. According to a recent systematic meta-analysis (Fernholtz et al. 2019), between 16.5% and 60% of musicians suffer from performance anxiety. The authors attribute this wide variation in results to methodological issues (such as differing definitions of anxiety symptoms and variations in assessing performance frequency and intensity). However, this does not change the fundamental fact that performance anxiety is a widespread phenomenon among musicians. In addition to performance anxiety, mental blocks caused by fear or past trauma can also affect musicians’ mental well-being. These blocks function as metaphorical walls (Baumeier 1984), where a musician, despite having no physical limitations, struggles to perform certain musical material due to self-doubt and negative thought patterns. While the topic of mental blocks has been widely explored in sports psychology (Beilock & Gray 2007; Walker 2021), research specifically focusing on musicians remains scarce.

This article presents master’s theses from the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre (EAMT) in musicology (Mesi 2023; Bukina 2024) examining these mental well-being issues – performance anxiety and mental blocks – in students from different disciplines. The article also introduces two bodywork practices, the Alexander Technique (AT) and the Feldernkrais Method (FM). The applied empirical research conducted for these theses focused on violin, viola, and piano students at EAMT, using an anonymous online questionnaire and action research as research methods.

Mesi (2023) found that all violin and viola students who participated had experienced excessive performance anxiety to some extent. As coping strategies, students mentioned discussing their issues with fellow musicians, using the AT, practicing mindful breathing, and consulting a psychologist. Additionally, students expressed a need for institutional support in this area, suggesting that mental well-being topics should be integrated into the curriculum to help normalise discussions around them. Bukina (2024) first assessed pianists’ states of well-being and the presence of mental blocks. The students then engaged in a two-week intervention involving selected exercises, including breathing exercises, stretching, and cognitive-behavioural exercises related to self-esteem. The results showed that all participants experienced changes in their perception of mental blocks when working with specific musical material. However, the extent of these changes varied individually, depending on each participant’s level of self-confidence at the start of the study. The findings from both studies highlight the connections between musicians’ mental well-being and physical condition, which should be considered by instrument instructors when mentoring students. A musician’s work is uniquely tied not only to their instrument but also to their body as a personal instrument. Pain, tension, or movement restrictions can act as significant stressors, increasing anxiety during both practice and performance, potentially leading to mental blocks in playing specific pieces. Similarly, physical symptoms associated with anxiety and fear such as muscle tension caused by negative thoughts can contribute to or exacerbate performance- related injuries.

To support musicians’ mental and physical well-being, it is essential to normalise interaction between mind and body and train and relax both thoughts and physical movements. The results also indicate that experiences of anxiety and mental blocks can be highly individual. While some variation can be attributed to instrument-specific challenges, other factors include a musician’s previous experiences, overall anxiety levels, and personality traits. Therefore, in addition to universal interventions, it is necessary to develop instrument-specific and individualised approaches. In more severe cases, seeking help from a specialised bodywork instructor (AT, FM), physiotherapist, or psychotherapist can be beneficial.