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Effects of a yoga lifestyle intervention on performance-related characteristics of musicians: A preliminary study
Abstract
Previous research has suggested that yoga and meditation practices are effective in stress management, alleviating anxiety and musculoskeletal problems and improving mood and cognitive and physical performance. Musicians experience a number of challenges in their profession including high levels of stress, performance anxiety and performance-related musculoskeletal conditions. Yoga and meditation techniques are therefore potentially useful practices for professional musicians.
Musicians enrolled in a prestigious 2-month summer fellowship program were invited to participate in a regular yoga and meditation program at a yoga center during the course of the program. The 10 participants in the yoga program completed baseline and end-program questionnaires evaluating performance-related musculoskeletal conditions, performance anxiety, mood and flow experience. Fellows not participating in the yoga program were recruited to serve as controls and completed the same assessments (N=8).
The yoga participants showed some improvements relative to control subjects on most measures, with the relative improvement in performance anxiety being the greatest.
The results from this preliminary study suggest that yoga and meditation may be beneficial as a routine practice to reduce performance anxiety in musicians.
... 51). The link between MPA and PRMDs may explain yoga's efficacy in reducing MPA due to its success in reducing musculoskeletal pain in musicians (Khalsa & Cope, 2006;Khalsa et al., 2009). ...
... However, two studies (Khalsa & Cope, 2006;Khalsa et al., 2009) have consistently shown improvements in MPA in musicians after interventions incorporating both yoga and meditation. ...
... Many authors also advocated for embodied mindfulness approaches that utilize controlled relaxation and breathing exercises, such as yoga and Tai Chi (Ryan, 1991;Käppel, 2016;Leisner, 2018). yoga's role as an effective treatment for performance-related movement disorders and MPA (Khalsa & Cope, 2006;Khalsa et al., 2009) makes it an ideal treatment for those looking to improve MPA while reducing performance stress. Tai Chi, another form of embodied mindfulness that emphasizes extreme efficiency of movement and muscular control, may have promise in this regard, especially because it remains low-impact. ...
Music performance anxiety (MPA) seriously affects nearly all musicians at some point in their lives and may cause musicians to abandon their careers or develop maladaptive coping mechanisms to manage their symptoms. While peer-reviewed studies have explored a broad array of psychological treatments for MPA, a paucity of research exists regarding expert classical guitarists’ recommendations for MPA symptom management. Since all post-secondary guitar instructors at the expert level interact with MPA in themselves and their students, and each instrumental discipline has idiosyncratic presentations of MPA, this dissertation seeks to understand common approaches and MPA management strategies from the perspective of classical guitar instructors at the post-secondary level—a cohort which includes the researcher. The project compares guitar experts’ recommendations with existing treatment protocols from psychology to understand MPA from a deeper scientific and heuristic perspective while providing pathways for novel research in this topic.
This research concluded that guitarists’ approaches prioritized performance excellence and complete mental and physical preparation to manage MPA, while psychological treatments prioritized cognitive components of MPA, musician’s well-being, and symptom reduction. An impressive convergence of approaches appeared in the guitar and psychology literature, particularly regarding the use of mindfulness strategies and strategies from sports psychology.
... The term "PRMD" as "performance-related musculoskeletal disorders" was used in seven publications (Ackermann et al. 2002b(Ackermann et al. , 2011Chan et al. 2013;Chan et al. 2014;Khalsa and Cope 2006;Khalsa et al. 2009). Among these, two intervention studies defined performance-related musculoskeletal disorders according to Zaza and Farewell as "any pain, weakness, numbness, tingling or any other symptoms that interfere with your ability to play your instrument at the level you are accustomed to. ...
... The second non-randomized study was a pilot study for a partially randomized trial that was conducted later. The pilot recruited its control group separately due to a low number of participants (Khalsa and Cope 2006;Khalsa et al. 2009). Two publications about Tuina treatment appeared to be drawn from Randomization only between the two intervention groups, not between intervention groups and control group the same study population, reporting immediate effects and effects occurring after 3 weeks (Sousa et al. 2015a, b). ...
... Five studies explicitly included participants with complaints to investigate the effectiveness of the interventions (Sousa et al. 2015a, b;Damian and Zalpour 2011;de Greef et al. 2003;Steinmetz et al. 2009). Six studies included both musicians with complaints and musicians without complaints and investigated the prevalence and intensity of complaints before and after the interventions (Nygaard Andersen et al. 2017;Ackermann et al. 2002b;Brandfonbrener 1997;Chan et al. 2014;Khalsa and Cope 2006;Khalsa et al. 2009) or during the interventions compared to control conditions (Ackermann et al. 2002b). ...
Purpose
Musicians’ practice and performance routines reportedly lead to musculoskeletal complaints and disorders (MCD) that impact their wellbeing and performance abilities. This systematic review aims to assess the prevalence, risk factors, prevention and effectiveness of treatments for MCD in professional musicians and consider the methodological quality of the included studies.
Methods
A systematic literature search was performed in December 2017 using electronic databases and supplemented by a hand search. Case–control studies, cohort studies, cross-sectional studies, interventional studies and case reports investigating the prevalence, risk factors, prevention or treatment effects of MCD in professional musicians or music students (age ≥ 16 years) were included. Quality assessments of the included studies were performed using an adapted version of the “Study Quality Assessment Tools” from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
Results
One case–control study, 6 cohort studies, 62 cross-sectional studies, 12 interventional studies and 28 case reports were included and assessed for methodological quality. The study designs, terminology, and outcomes were heterogeneous, as the analyses mostly did not control for major confounders, and the definition of exposure was often vague. Therefore, evidence that being a professional musician is a risk factor for MCD as well as the causal relationship between these factors remains low despite the fact that a large number of studies have been performed.
Conclusions
Studies with high internal and external validity regarding the prevalence, risk factors and effectiveness of the prevention or treatment of MCD in professional musicians are still missing. Further high-quality observational and interventional studies are required.
... Positive self-talk, imagery, cognitive Decreases in self-reported anxiety and increases in performance 17 overcoming adversity, [17][18]24 and the capacity to use mental skills. 16,20 The above learned skills generally decreased performance anxiety, 12,14,18,19,21-23 improved musician's self-worth,2 improved music learning and performance planning, 18 fostered resilience, 18 increased imagery vividness, 2 improved one's perception of musical skills, 2 increased self-awareness 15 and self-regulation, 2,24 increased instrumental music practice, 2 improved ratings of overall music and technical quality, 14,21 improved focus and concentration, 17 improved flow and mood, 18,22 and contributed to a positive outlook on music performance and practice. 15,21 ...
... The use of PST interventions commonly employed in sport in a music domain often lack suitable control groups 13,16 to determine the efficacy of such interventions. The PST interventions employed are also inconsistent in recommendations of duration for effectiveness, ranging from 3 weeks, 12,17 to 6 weeks, 19 to 7 weeks, 16 to 8 weeks, 13,15,18,20,22,23 to 9 weeks, 2 to 11 weeks, 14 to 15 lessons in a semester, 21 for example. According to Clark and Williamon, 2 sport and exercise literature generally suggests 9 weeks for an appropriate intervention duration, but additional empirical research must be conducted to evaluate the transferability of intervention duration to a music performance domain. ...
... Clark and Williamon 2 found the musicspecific mental skills training program to be valuable and recommended that future research include an investigation of the individual skills employed by musicians throughout the training process. Khalsa and Cope 22 acknowledged methodological limitations to their study but found that most musicians were receptive to meditative and/or yoga practices to improve performance. Perhaps unique to the performing arts domain, the Alexander technique has shown promise in decreasing performance anxiety, improving mood, and increasing flow for musicians. ...
Aim:
The aim of this paper was to systematically review existing empirical literature addressing the use of psychological skills training (PST) interventions commonly employed in sport applied to a music domain. Included PST studies must have an experimental or quasi-experimental design and no clinical or pharmacological interventions and/or assessments.
Methods:
The databases MEDLINE (EBSCO), PsychInfo, Psych Articles, CINAHL Plus with full text, Google Scholar, SportDiscus, and Music Index were searched using a combination of the terms. music*, performance psychology, performance enhancement, music performance, intervention, psychological skills training, and music performance psychology. Due to the novelty of the existing literature, there were no limitation restrictions to publication year, the standard of musician (e.g., expert, novice, professional, amateur), participant age, or type of intervention setting.
Results:
The initial search revealed 323 published articles. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 10 articles were deemed sufficient for review. Four additional articles were found via pen-and-paper method by evaluating the reference sections of the included articles. All reviewed studies demonstrated that aspects of PST interventions commonly employed in sport (except Alexander technique) are effective at subjectively enhancing performance in a music domain. The PST interventions varied vastly in duration, as well as the types of (and a theoretical and empirical rationale for) psychological skills employed.
Conclusions:
Music performers may benefit from PST interventions typically used in sport; however, unique considerations of the music performance environment must be addressed in the design of such PST interventions.
... Prior research suggests that mind-body interventions such as yoga may be related to an alleviation of negative psychological states in musicians, such as reduced music performance anxiety (Khalsa et al. 2013;Khalsa and Cope 2006;Khalsa et al. 2009). The present study expands upon this work by examining whether a yoga intervention might induce the positive psychological states of flow and mindfulness in young adult musicians, as well as whether these positive states are associated with decreases in confusion and performance anxiety. ...
... A number of outcome measures were collected across all three years of the present study, however, for the purpose of the current paper we specifically focus on the measures that evaluated positive psychological states that are considered important for music performance, namely psychological flow and mindfulness (see Khalsa and Cope 2006;Khalsa et al. 2009 for results pertaining to the additional outcome measures). 1 ...
... Both scales provide a total mood disturbance score and subscale scores for six mood states: tension/anxiety, depression/dejection, anger/hostility, vigor/activity, fatigue/inertia, and confusion/ bewilderment (McNair et al. 1992). In this study we report only the results from the confusion subscale, as this subscale most directly bears on a performance activity (results for the other subscales can be found in Khalsa and Cope 2006;Khalsa et al. 2009). The range of possible score values on the confusion subscale on the 65-item POMS is 0-28, whereas the range of possible values on the confusion subscale on the 30-item POMS is 0-20, with higher scores indicating higher levels of confusion. ...
Although yoga has been shown to be a viable technique for improving the performance of the mind and body, little attention has been directed to studying the relationship between yoga and the psychological states of flow and mindfulness. Musicians enrolled in a 2-month fellowship program in 2005, 2006 and 2007 were invited to participate in a yoga and meditation program. Fellows not participating in the yoga program were recruited separately as controls. All participants completed baseline and end-program questionnaires evaluating dispositional flow, mindfulness, confusion, and music performance anxiety. Compared to controls, yoga participants reported significant decreases in confusion and increases in dispositional flow. Yoga participants in the 2006 sample also reported significant increases in the mindfulness subscale of awareness. Correlational analyses revealed that increases in participants' dispositional flow and mindfulness were associated with decreases in confusion and music performance anxiety. This study demonstrates the commonalities between positive psychology and yoga, both of which are focused on enhancing human performance and promoting beneficial psychological states. The results suggest that yoga and meditation may enhance the states of flow and mindful awareness, and reduce confusion.
... Cohen et al., 2004;Khalsa, Shorter, Cope, Wyshak, & Sklar, 2009), and one each in Australia (Smith, Hancock, Blake-Mortimer, & Eckert, 2007), Iran (Javnbakht et al., 2009), and Canada (Cowen & Adams, 2005). Among the non-RCTs, two were completed in India (Swatmarama, 1987;Telles, Gaur, & Balkrishna, 2009), four in the United States (Khalsa & Cope, 2006;Kiecolt-Glaser et al., 2010;Moane, 2003;Moy, 1996), and one each in Sweden (Kjellgren, Bood, Axelsson, Norlander, & Saatcioglu, 2007) and Germany (Michalsen et al., 2005). The mean age of participants ranged from 24 to 77 years. ...
... a SRs used solely as a means of gathering evidence congruent with the aims of present review. (Khalsa & Cope, 2006;Kiecolt-Glaser et al., 2010;Kjellgren et al., 2007;Moane, 2003;Moy, 1996;Subramanya & Telles, 2009) and participants with mild to moderate stress levels in two studies (Michalsen et al., 2005;. Nine of the studies indicated their yoga sessions were taught by expert or ''trained'' yoga instructors (Banasik et al., 2011;Banerjee et al., 2007;Chandwani et al., 2010;Chattha et al., 2008;L. ...
... Khalsa et al. (2009) used a reward system for their control group. Of the non-randomized studies, five used active control groups (Kiecolt-Glaser et al., 2010;Kjellgren et al., 2007;Moane, 2003;Moy, 1996;Subramanya & Telles, 2009;, one used a wait-listed control group (Michalsen et al., 2005), and one study had a no-treatment, no-wait-list control group (Khalsa & Cope, 2006). The included studies used either self-report tools or physiological measures to track anxiety, such as heart rate, blood pressure, or salivary cortisol. ...
Background
State anxiety can result from a variety of life situations. This type of anxiety can disrupt occupational engagement and performance, thereby affecting rehabilitation and recovery. Occupational therapists need to address the connection between mind-body-spirit and its relationship to performance and engagement in meaningful occupations. Yoga, when used as an adjunct to therapy, has the potential to address state anxiety.
Purpose
The aim was to systematically review the evidence concerning the effectiveness of yoga as a treatment approach for state anxiety.
Methods
Six electronic databases, the authors’ own files, and the references of included studies from 1990 to July 2011 were searched.
Findings
A total of 25 unique studies represented by 26 publications made up the sample: two systematic reviews; 16 randomized controlled trials, and seven prospective, controlled, non-randomized studies. Evidence suggests yoga can be a viable therapeutic option for reducing state anxiety in certain situations.
Implications
In making the determination to recommend yoga as an intervention, occupational therapists should consider the client’s circumstances and values as well as the type and intensity of the yoga program.
... Cohen et al., 2004;Khalsa, Shorter, Cope, Wyshak, & Sklar, 2009), and one each in Australia (Smith, Hancock, Blake-Mortimer, & Eckert, 2007), Iran (Javnbakht et al., 2009), and Canada (Cowen & Adams, 2005). Among the non-RCTs, two were completed in India (Swatmarama, 1987;Telles, Gaur, & Balkrishna, 2009), four in the United States (Khalsa & Cope, 2006;Kiecolt-Glaser et al., 2010;Moane, 2003;Moy, 1996), and one each in Sweden (Kjellgren, Bood, Axelsson, Norlander, & Saatcioglu, 2007) and Germany (Michalsen et al., 2005). The mean age of participants ranged from 24 to 77 years. ...
... a SRs used solely as a means of gathering evidence congruent with the aims of present review. (Khalsa & Cope, 2006;Kiecolt-Glaser et al., 2010;Kjellgren et al., 2007;Moane, 2003;Moy, 1996;Subramanya & Telles, 2009) and participants with mild to moderate stress levels in two studies (Michalsen et al., 2005;. Nine of the studies indicated their yoga sessions were taught by expert or ''trained'' yoga instructors (Banasik et al., 2011;Banerjee et al., 2007;Chandwani et al., 2010;Chattha et al., 2008;L. ...
... Khalsa et al. (2009) used a reward system for their control group. Of the non-randomized studies, five used active control groups (Kiecolt-Glaser et al., 2010;Kjellgren et al., 2007;Moane, 2003;Moy, 1996;Subramanya & Telles, 2009;, one used a wait-listed control group (Michalsen et al., 2005), and one study had a no-treatment, no-wait-list control group (Khalsa & Cope, 2006). The included studies used either self-report tools or physiological measures to track anxiety, such as heart rate, blood pressure, or salivary cortisol. ...
State anxiety can result from a variety of life situations. This type of anxiety can disrupt occupational engagement and performance, thereby affecting rehabilitation and recovery. Occupational therapists need to address the connection between mind-body-spirit and its relationship to performance and engagement in meaningful occupations. Yoga, when used as an adjunct to therapy, has the potential to address state anxiety.
The aim was to systematically review the evidence concerning the effectiveness of yoga as a treatment approach for state anxiety.
Six electronic databases, the authors' own files, and the references of included studies from 1990 to July 2011 were searched.
A total of 25 unique studies represented by 26 publications made up the sample: two systematic reviews; 16 randomized controlled trials, and seven prospective, controlled, non-randomized studies. Evidence suggests yoga can be a viable therapeutic option for reducing state anxiety in certain situations.
In making the determination to recommend yoga as an intervention, occupational therapists should consider the client's circumstances and values as well as the type and intensity of the yoga program.
... Of the intervention studies, nine comprised an active control group (James et al., 1977;Pearson and Simpson, 1978;Sweeney and Horan, 1982;James and Savage, 1984;Gates et al., 1985;Gates and Montalbo, 1987;Montello et al., 1990;Stanton, 1994;Wells et al., 2012), nine a waiting list group or no treatment control group (Sweeney and Horan, 1982;Nagel et al., 1989;Montello et al., 1990;Valentine et al., 1995;Chang et al., 2003;Khalsa and Cope, 2006;Khalsa et al., 2009;Bissonnette et al., 2015;Spahn et al., 2016), three were without control group (Kim, 2005;Stern et al., 2012;Juncos et al., 2017) and six compared different interventions (Sweeney and Horan, 1982;Brodsky and Sloboda, 1997;Hinz, 2005;Kim, 2008;Khalsa et al., 2009;Wells et al., 2012). Some studies are listed several times because they included different kinds of control groups and/or interventions. ...
... MPA investigated with: Adaptation of AATS, AD, video and audiotaped public recital at T1 and T2: rated for musical performance competence (MPC = number of errors) and behavioural index of anxiety (BIA = number of MPA symptoms seen on video) Treatment: six weekly sessions of group therapy group 1: cue-controlled relaxation, group 2: cognitive restructuring, group 3: cue-controlled relaxation + cognitive restructuring, group 4: standard treatment control group = musical analysis training, group 5: waitlist Middlestadt, 1990). Two intervention studies found significant reductions of MPA in questionnaires after yoga interventions (8 weeks/14 classes) (Khalsa and Cope, 2006;Stern, 2012). One intervention study compared a yoga lifestyle intervention, yoga only and a no treatment control group. ...
Music performance anxiety (MPA) is one of the most common disorders among professional musicians, nevertheless, little is known about the disease. With this systematic review, prevalence, risk factors and treatment procedures for MPA were assessed, and for the first time, quality assessments were carried out for all studies using standardized assessment tools. A systematic literature search was conducted via search algorithms in the databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycArticles, PsycInfo and ERIC. Included were case reports, case–control, cohort, cross-sectional and intervention studies examining professional musicians with MPA. For quality assessment, adapted tools of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute were used. A total of 43 studies were included (10 case reports, 21 intervention, 11 cross-sectional, one cohort study). Quality ratings ranged from −11 to 6 out of a maximum of 15/16 points for cross-sectional/cohort studies and −4 to 11 out of 18 points for intervention studies. The prevalence of MPA was between 16.5% and 60%. More women than men were affected and musicians older than 45–50 years reported less MPA than younger musicians. Regarding treatment cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and β -blockers were most often researched with beneficial results for CBT. However, studies with adequate control groups for CBT interventions are needed to clarify its efficacy. Studies showed methodological weaknesses, especially in the selection of participants, recording of influencing factors, blinding of interventions, randomization of participants and analysis of comorbidity. Recommendations for further research are made.
... However, if you engage in a short practice of tailored yoga postures and yoga breathing this will alleviate these complaints. In sum, yoga delivers similar health benefits to mindfulness in terms of mood improvement and stress reduction (Chong, et al, 2011;Khalsa & Cope, 2006); however, because yoga also involves breath regulation and posture, it has wider-ranging and more pronounced physiological effects, including addressing chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity and respiratory conditions. It does so in a manner that mindfulness cannot. ...
... Research documenting the therapeutic benefits of yoga has grown steadily for the past three decades and now includes controlled clinical trials on a variety of mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety (Field, 2011;Khalsa & Cope, 2006). A meta-analysis of yoga research suggests that 'a growing body of evidence states that yoga benefits physical and mental health via down-regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the sympathetic nervous system' (Ross & Thomas, 2010, p. 3). ...
Background:
Mental wellbeing among young people is deteriorating. Poor mental wellbeing can be related to unmanaged stress. Adverse Childhood Experiences are widespread and result in young people having stressful lives. Stress has many manifestations, and coping with it can lead to risky health-related behaviours.
Main body:
A safe, scientifically-supported, efficient and effective set of stress-reduction skills is provided by the practice of yoga. At present, yoga is available privately, not publicly. After appropriately designed and evaluated interventions, the public provision of yoga could be integrated within the school curriculum, thereby reducing the high prevalence of prescription medication and offering a preventative strategy to promote positive mental health among young people.
Short conclusion:
We suggest that the long-term benefits of an investment in a curriculum-embedded school-based yoga programme would do much to reduce stress both now for future generations.
... Similarly to learning any complex skill, PST requires both time and effort (Andersen, 2000(Andersen, , 2005). Other types of interventions such as yoga (Khalsa and Cope, 2006), Alexander technique (Valentine et al., 1995), have revealed positive effects in reducing performance anxiety in musicians. Khalsa and Cope (2006) found that yoga had some positive significant impact on reducing high levels of stress, performance-related musculoskeletal conditions, and performance anxiety. ...
... Other types of interventions such as yoga (Khalsa and Cope, 2006), Alexander technique (Valentine et al., 1995), have revealed positive effects in reducing performance anxiety in musicians. Khalsa and Cope (2006) found that yoga had some positive significant impact on reducing high levels of stress, performance-related musculoskeletal conditions, and performance anxiety. Valentine et al. (1995) found that Alexander technique enhanced musical and technical quality of performance to some extent. ...
The purpose of the present mixed method study was to investigate personal benefits, perceptions, and the effect of a 15-week sport psychological skills training program adapted for musicians. The program was individually tailored for six music performance students with the objective of facilitating the participants' instrumental practice and performance. The participants learnt techniques such as goal setting, attentional focus, arousal regulation, imagery, and acceptance training/self-talk. Zimmerman's (1989) cyclical model of self-regulated learning was applied as a theoretical frame for the intervention. The present study's mixed-method approach (i.e., quan+ QUAL) included effect size, semi-structured interviews, a research log, and practice diaries of the participants (Creswell, 2009). Thematic analysis revealed that participants had little or no experience concerning planning and goal setting in regard to instrumental practice. Concentration, volition, and physical pain were additional issues that the participants struggled with at the time of pre-intervention. The study found that psychological skills training (with special emphasis on planning and goal setting) facilitated cyclical self-regulated learning patterns in the participants. In essence, the intervention was found to facilitate the participants' concentration, self-observation, self-efficacy, and coping in the face of failure. The appliance of practice journals facilitated the participants' self-observation, self-evaluation, and awareness of instrumental practice. Finally, the psychological skills intervention reduced participants' worry and anxiety in performance situations. An 8-month follow up interview revealed that the participants were still actively applying psychological skills.
... Much of the available research on yoga and mood/affect regulation has been conducted in the general adult population and has combined yoga with other treatments (e.g., additional meditation sequences outside of yoga practice), making it difficult to draw conclusions about the unique effects of yoga on mood or affect (Butler et al., 2008;Chan, Immink, & Hillier, 2012;Gupta, Khera, Vempati, Sharma, & Bijlani, 2006;Khalsa & Cope, 2006;Khalsa, Shorter, Cope, Wyshak, & Sklar, 2009;Smith et al., 2008;Woolery, Myers, Sternlieb, & Zeltzer, 2004). Three studies examined the acute effects of yoga on mood, affect, and/or anxiety regulation. ...
... Our findings are similar to those of studies that have shown positive effects on mood of yoga delivered alone (Eastman-Mueller et al., 2013;Janakiramaiah et al., 2000;Streeter et al., 2010) and in combination with other treatments (Butler et al., 2008;Chan et al., 2012;Gupta et al., 2006;Khalsa & Cope, 2006;Khalsa et al., 2009;Smith et al., 2008;Woolery et al., 2004). Janakiramaih (2000) found significant improvements in mood among clinically depressed adults administered a four-week Sudarshan Kriya yoga program conducted four days per week versus a cont rol group administered thrice-weekly electro c o n v u l s i ve therapy. ...
College students are vulnerable to a critical period in developmental maturation, facing rigorous academic work and learning how to function independently. Western aerobic exercise (WAE), such as running and bicycling, has been shown to improve mood and relieve stress. However, college students often have low levels of physical activity. Yoga is an ancient physical and mental practice that may affect mood and stress. However, rigorous studies examining the psychological effects of yoga are rare in peerreviewed Western journals. The aim of this research was to establish preliminary evidence for the acute effects of Vinyasa yoga on affect and stress in young-adult college students.
Twenty healthy college students age 18 years and older were recruited to participate in this pilot study. Participants attended a Vinyasa yoga class at a local studio twice weekly for 8 weeks. Affect and stress were assessed before and after each yoga session. Measures included the Positive and Negative Affective Schedule (PANAS) and the Cohen Perceived Stress scale.
Positive affect scores increased significantly (p < 0.05) for 14 of the 16 yoga sessions (mean increase = 23.2%). Negative affect decreased significantly from pre- to postyoga (p < 0.05) for 15 of the 16 sessions (mean decrease = 22%). Repeated measures ANOVAs examining pre-post composite scores across all 8 weeks showed significant changes in PANAS, but not stress scores.
Findings suggest that yoga practice is associated with acute improvements in affect in a young-adult college population. Future research is needed to examine the extent to which different types of yoga address the needs of different college sub-populations (e.g., eating disordered, overweight/obese, sedentary, and smokers).
... A major finding from the performance literature is that more impediments to flow emerge in the form of the situation exceeding the performers' skill and in the form of performance anxiety caused by the fear of social judgment. As such, previous work has found a significant negative association between performance anxiety and flow (LeBlanc et al., 1997;Wrigley and Emmerson, 2013;Cohen and Bodner, 2018), and there is some evidence that interventions such as yoga can decrease performance anxiety to increase flow (Khalsa and Cope, 2006;Butzer et al., 2016). Similarly, studies of music performance students found that, since the majority of participants believed that they did not possess sufficient skill to meet the challenge of the performance, they did not find the performance absorbing or intrinsically enjoyable, two of the major conditions of flow (Fullagar et al., 2013;Wrigley and Emmerson, 2013). ...
Flow is defined as a state of total absorption in an activity, involving focused attention, deep engagement, loss of self-conscious awareness, and self-perceived temporal distortion. Musical flow has been associated with enhanced performance, but the bulk of previous research has investigated flow mechanisms using self-report methodology. Thus, little is known about the precise musical features that may induce or disrupt flow. This work aims to consider the experience of flow from a music performance perspective in order to investigate these features and introduces a method of measuring flow in real time. In Study 1, musicians reviewed a self-selected video of themselves performing, noting first, where in the performance they recalled “losing themselves” in the music, and second, where their focused state was interrupted. Thematic analysis of participant flow experiences suggests temporal, dynamic, pitch and timbral dimensions associated with the induction and disruption of flow. In Study 2, musicians were brought into the lab and recorded while performing a self-selected musical composition. Next, participants were asked to estimate the duration of their performance, and to rewatch their recordings to mark those places in which they recalled “losing themselves in the moment.” We found that the proportion of performance time spent in flow significantly correlated with self-reported flow intensity, providing an intrinsic measure of flow and confirming the validity of our method to capture flow states in music performance. We then analyzed the music scores and participants’ performed melodies. The results showed that stepwise motion, repeated sequence, and a lack of disjunct motion are common to flow state entry points, whereas disjunct motion and syncopation are common to flow state exit points. Overall, such initial findings suggest directions that warrant future study and, altogether, they have implications regarding utilizing flow in music performance contexts.
... Other interventions integrate ideas from physical therapy or music therapy (Alexander Technique interventions, improvisation-based interventions, music therapy; Allen, 2013;Montello, 1990;Montello et al., 1990;Valentine et al., 1995). Physical activity has also been integrated in MPA interventions (yoga interventions; Khalsa & Cope, 2006;Stern et al., 2012) as well as hypnosis (Stanton, 1993). Mixed interventions combine techniques from various paradigms (e.g., hypnotherapy, success imagery, and rational emotive therapy; Stanton, 1993). ...
Cognitive and behavioral interventions are widely used in dealing with anxiety problems. Many musicians face high anxiety levels when they have to perform in front of an audience, thus requiring efficient interventions. Studies investigating interventions for music performance anxiety (MPA) are highly heterogeneous, making it difficult to implement a meta-analytic analysis for all the intervention types investigated. However, there are several studies that investigate the effects of cognitive and behavioral interventions. Thus, the main aim of our study was to investigate the efficacy of cognitive and behavioral interventions in managing MPA symptoms in musicians. We reviewed 14 studies which included musicians ( N = 392) who were confronted with high/dysfunctional levels of MPA. Overall, findings indicated a positive medium effect size (Cohen’s d = 0.53). We also tested the influence of several moderators related to intervention characteristics (e.g., type of intervention, type of control group, selection criteria) or participant characteristics (age, percentage of women). Although the differences we found were not statistically significant, the trend of the results was in line with previous research. Theoretical and practical implications for MPA are further discussed.
... Entre las técnicas que favorecen la conciencia corporal se encuentran la bioretroalimentación (Williamon, 2004a), el yoga (Stern, Khalsa y Hofmann, 2012), la meditación (Rodríguez, Lecuona, Vilte, Moreno y de Rivas, 2017) y la técnica Alexander (Burin y De Lima, 2016). La práctica del yoga y la meditación pueden ser benéficos como rutina para reducir la ansiedad de desempeño musical (Khalsa y Cope, 2006). De hecho, la primera se ha asociado con una reducción de la ansiedad-estado, así como de la ansiedad-rasgo (Stern, Khalsa y Hofmann, 2012). ...
Antecedentes. La ansiedad por el desempeño musical es un fenómeno bien conocido entre los profesionales de la música. Entre los métodos usados para abordar este problema, se encuentran las técnicas de meditación, y en particular los tratamientos basados en atención plena compasiva, se han perfilado como una opción de intervención para este grupo poblacional. Objetivos. Evaluar la factibilidad de utilizar una intervención basada en atención plena compasiva para reducir los niveles de ansiedad de rasgo y estado en estudiantes de música. Método. Se implementó un estudio experimental con un diseño pretest-postest sin grupo de comparación en el que se reclutó a veinte participantes para una intervención basada en atención plena compasiva que constó de ocho sesiones de 120 minutos cada una, impartidas una vez a la semana. Para evaluar los niveles de sintomatología ansiosa, atención plena y compasión se hicieron evaluaciones psicométricas antes y después de la intervención. De igual manera, se midieron también la frecuencia cardiaca y el cortisol salival. Resultados. Los niveles de ansiedad de rasgo y estado, así como las variables fisiológicas, no mostraron cambios significativos. Sin embargo, se encontró un aumento estadísticamente significativo en el nivel de compasión y una tendencia a la mejoría en la variable de atención plena. Conclusiones. Se sugiere que en futuras investigaciones se aumente el número de sesiones de práctica guiada y se empleen grupos de comparación. De igual manera, se recomienda la evaluación del desempeño musical de los participantes.
... Finally, studies have found how yoga and meditation programs, which involved relaxation and focus exercises, facilitated flow. Khalsa and Cope (2006) examined the effectiveness of a comprehensive yoga lifestyle intervention among ten musicians in the United States. Compared to the eight musicians in the control group, those in the intervention group showed improvement in their self-reported levels of flow and performance anxiety. ...
The purpose of this study was to determine the predictors of individual and collective flow experienced by Secondary school students while they engaged in band. More specifically, it aimed to test Sawyer’s (2006) theorisation that collective flow predicts individual flow, and also to ascertain if grit directly predicts flow in instrumental contexts (Miksza & Tan, 2015).
Participants were 83 band students from two Secondary school bands in Singapore. Data were collected using two questionnaires that measured participants’ self-report levels of individual and collective flow while rehearsing, achievement goals towards band, grit while practising, commitment to band, and expectancy-value towards band. The main data analyses included: (1) descriptive statistics of all constructs (Research Question One); (2) between-subject t-test and one-way ANOVA to identify whether any constructs differed by gender or instrumental families (Research Question One); (3) correlational and regression analyses (Research Question Two); and (4) mediation analyses (Research Question Three).
Findings indicated a reciprocal relationship between individual and collective flow: individual flow predicted collective flow and vice versa. Among the myriad psychological constructs, value emerged strongly in the data—it was not only positively associated with commitment, mastery-approach goals, individual and collective flow, but was also the strongest predictor of collective flow. Finally, the effect of grit on individual flow was found to be indirect and mediated by expectancy and value. Based on the findings, implications for theory and practice were proffered.
... These methods are developed with the general population in mind and tailored to the specific needs of musicians. Examples of this in the literature include Alexander Technique (AT) (Kleinman and Buckoke, 2013;Klein et al., 2014), Feldenkrais Method (FM) (Lee, 2018), Body Mapping (Buchanan and Hays, 2014) and yoga and yogic breathing (Khalsa and Cope, 2006;Lee et al., 2016). ...
The importance of including performance-related body mechanics into music education to improve performance quality and prevent performance-related injuries has been stressed by many researchers recently. However, it is unclear how this information could be delivered most effectively. The somatic method 'Timani' provides a practical solution by combining expertise in music performance and functional body mechanics with the goal of achieving a more efficient playing technique. Since no in-depth study has been conducted to assess the method before, we explored the impact of this method on young musicians' performance through an online, 4-week-long Timani intervention with a mixed-methodology design. 17 students (mean age = 19.17 years) were recruited from the Norwegian Academy of Music. They participated in two group workshops at the beginning and the end of the project and received four individual Timani sessions administered by certified teachers. We collected survey data at the workshops about performance-related pain and self-efficacy, and qualitative feedback after each session. In addition, all sessions were observed by the researcher and semi-structured interviews were conducted with the teachers about the perceived outcomes and their experiences with teaching the method online. Our findings show that the intervention had a positive impact on a physical, professional, and to some extent, psychological and behavioral level. The improvements included better posture when playing, enhanced control and dexterity in the upper extremities, and improved breathing mechanisms. The seven students who had performance-related pain pre-intervention reported a reduction in the discomfort. The positive results were achieved by the dual expertise of the teachers in music performance and functional body mechanics, the structure of the sessions, the communication, and the pedagogical tools used. Both students and teachers felt that administering the sessions online was satisfactory and produced good results. Timani is a promising method to establish healthy playing and singing habits thus improving performance quality and preventing performance-related problems and has great potential in reducing pre-existing injuries and pain. Also, it can be effectively taught online which has further implications for the logistics of delivery.
... nholz et al., 2019). Most published studies with adult musicians have employed quantitative methodologies, for example: intervention studies and experimental research (e.g., James and Savage, 1984;Gates et al., 1985;Gates and Montalbo, 1987;Nagel et al., 1989;Montello et al., 1990;Brotons, 1994;Brodsky and Sloboda, 1997;Chang et al., 2003;Kim, 2005. Khalsa and Cope, 2006Khalsa et al., 2009;Stern et al., 2012;Wells et al., 2012;Bissonnette et al., 2015;Spahn et al., 2016;Juncos et al., 2017) and psychometric testing (e.g., Steptoe and Fidler, 1987;Kenny et al., 2014;Medeiros Barbar et al., 2014;Nielsen et al., 2018). Physiological measurements of MPA (e.g., Abel and Larkin, 1990;Brotons, 1994;Yoshie et a ...
Most investigations of musical performance anxiety have employed quantitative
methodologies. Whereas such methodologies can provide useful insights into the
measurable aspects of the experience in a larger group of participants, the
complexity, subtlety and individuality of the emotional experience and the importance
of the individual’s interpretation of it are often overlooked. This study employed
a phenomenological approach to investigate the lived, subjective experience of
performance anxiety, as described in professional musicians’ narratives. Semistructured
interviews with four professional musicians (two males, two females)
specializing in Western classical and jazz music genres were conducted and analyzed
using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). The analysis revealed the presence
of four overarching themes: (1) Intensity of performance anxiety experience, (2)
perceived effects, (3) development of coping strategies, and (4) achieving release
from anxiety. Findings suggest that the lived experience of performance anxiety is
multifaceted, characterized by a physical and a psychological dimension. Interpretative
Phenomenological Analysis is a useful research tool that can facilitate our understanding
of the subjective experience of performance anxiety (how it is felt and understood at an
individual level) and can thus be useful in the development of tailor-made intervention
programs for musicians.
... En general se puede observar que los pequeños problemas de postura corporal, como por ejemplo tensiones en los hombros o cuello, han mejorado a lo largo del año, y los individuos han aprendido a autocorregirse. Mejorando con ello la consciencia corporal para el aprendizaje de un instrumento tras una intervención basada en el yoga y/o la meditación, como han estudiado diferentes investigaciones (Brandfonbrener & Kjelland, 2002;Khalsa & Cope, 2006;Adams, 2012). Por otro lado, se observa que la motricidad fina, esencial para la interpretación de un instrumento musical, no ha sufrido ninguna variación. ...
El artículo presenta un trabajo de investigación-acción desarrollado con la clase de violoncello de un conservatorio con la intención de estudiar los beneficios del yoga y la meditación en el aprendizaje de un instrumento y en el manejo de algunos problemas inherentes a los estudiantes de música, como trastornos musculoesqueléticos y ansiedad escénica. Se pretende que los resultados ayuden a mejorar la práctica docente, alejando las enseñanzas musicales del sufrimiento psíquico, emocional y físico que en ocasiones padecen los músicos. Durante el desarrollo de la investigación-acción con los cuatro participantes se recogieron datos de la implicación en el aprendizaje, la ansiedad de los participantes, y se implementó un programa de yoga y meditación. Al finalizar se recogieron nuevamente los datos y se solicitó a los participantes un relato personal sobre su experiencia. El análisis de los datos mostró mejoras significativas en la implicación en el aprendizaje, al mismo tiempo que se redujeron los niveles de ansiedad estado y ansiedad escénica. Se puede concluir que yoga y meditación, como complementos de la formación de los estudiantes de música, pueden ayudar a mejorar su aprendizaje y desarrollar herramientas de afrontamiento para problemas que cohabitan con la profesión.
... While the goal of yoga historically has been to create a spiritual state of unity, it is also practiced to produce physical and emotional well being. Research suggests that yoga can improve anxiety [13]. ...
... In addition to the methodologies employed, Tables 1 to 4 also present lists of topics covered by each of the 95 records. Salient topics that emerged among studies that employed quantitative methods included music performance (e.g., Iusca, 2015;Marin & Bhattacharya, 2013;Wrigley & Emmerson, 2013), music practice (e.g., Butkovic, Ullén, & Mosing, 2015;de Araujo & de Andraude, 2013;Miksza & Tan, 2015), performance anxiety (e.g., Khalsa & Cope, 2006), and motivation (e.g., Heller, Bullerjahn, & von Georgi, 2015;O'Neill, 1999). Among the qualitative studies, music education, especially those that involve younger participants, was a common topic (e.g., Addessi & Pachet, 2005;Chen-Hafteck & Schraer-Joiner, 2011;Cunha & Carvalho, 2011;Custodero, 1998). ...
The purpose of this study was to review flow research in music contexts from 1975 until the first quarter of 2019. Specifically, frequencies/percentages were calculated for (a) output in five-year periods; (b) publication type; and (c) methodologies employed, including measurement instruments used. Content analyses were also conducted on topics covered. Using the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) methodology, a total of 3,341 records were examined, with 95 studies eventually included in the analysis. Findings indicated a steady increase in research output over the last 25 years. Studies overwhelmingly sampled participants from Western populations, especially the United States. The majority of quantitative studies used self-report questionnaires, of which those developed by Jackson and colleagues were most prevalent. Among the qualitative approaches, interviews and observations were the most common means of data collection. Topics covered in the studies reviewed include the psychophysiological aspects of flow, transmission and group experience of flow, the association of flow with a range of positive outcomes, factors that contribute to flow experiences, and flow experiences of young children. Implications for future research were proffered in light of the findings.
... Not only does yoga improve mental stability, but it improves physical stability as well. Research suggests that yoga can improve anxiety (Khalsa and Cope 2006). Such confirmation is not secret to the public nor is a secret to the healthcare system. ...
Anxiety disorders are the most common form of psychiatric disorders in the US. They affect up to 40 million adults, or 18% of the population aged 18 and older. Anxiety disorders have a 60% comorbidity rate with depression. Our purpose is to reiterate the effect of yoga on anxiety
A thorough literature research was completed utilizing PubMed, Cochrane, Medline, Elsevier, Psych Info as well as well as some psychiatric textbooks. Over 10 articles were selected with inclusion criteria of the terms anxiety, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and yoga. No exclusion data for a target population was included. These articles were then saved on Zotero, a free software available to collect, save, share and cite research articles. While historically, the goal of yoga has been to create a spiritual state of unity, it is also practiced to produce physical and emotional wellbeing. Research suggests that yoga can improve anxiety. Yoga not only limited benefits individuals with mental health disorders, but can also benefit those with physical disorders. The relevance of integrating yoga into the psychiatric nursing practice should be a priority. Due to its undeniable effectiveness in relieving the symptoms of anxiety, yoga must be integrated and promoted into psychiatric practice.
... Khalsa és Cope (2006) vizsgálatában a zenészek egy két hónapig tartó jóga és meditációs táborban vettek részt. A program végén a gyakoribb volt a flow élmény, a zenei teljesítményszorongás szintje pedig alacsonyabb volt a kezdeti értékhez képest (Khalsa & Cope, 2006). Más tanulmányok eredményei is azt mutatják, hogy jóga hatására a lámpaláz csökken (kontrollcsoporthoz képest), ami korrelál a megnövekedett flow és tudatosság érzésével (Butzer, Ahmed, & Khalsa, 2015;Khalsa, Butzer, Shorter, Reinhardt, & Cope, 2013). ...
A társas kapcsolatok hiánya és a szociális funkciók romlása, az alacsony énhatékonyság és ennek következtében a csökkent életminőség a szorongásos zavarok gyakori velejárói. A társas környezetben tapasztalt szorongás nemcsak a vonásszorongással és a tökéletességre való törekvéssel függ össze, hanem a pszichológiai védőfaktorok hiányával is. Annak ellenére, hogy a lámpaláz hazánkban is igen elterjedt, a pedagógusok csak kis mértékben, vagy egyáltalán nem tudnak tanácsot adni a kezelést vagy a tünetek enyhítését illetően. Nemzetközi szinten dinamikusan nő a lámpaláz iránti érdeklődés, bővül a zenészek körében alkalmazott terápiás lehetőségek száma, míg hazánkban csak elvétve találunk olyan tanulmányokat, amelyek említenék ezt a témakört. Ezt a hiányt szeretném pótolni a jelen tanulmánnyal, amelyben bemutatom a zenei teljesítményszorongás háttértényezőit, a társuló mentális zavarokat és azokat a kezelési módszereket, amelyek hatékonyságát már zenészek körében is igazolták. A szakirodalmi áttekintés alapján a zenei teljesítményszorongás minden korosztályban és hangszercsoportban előforduló jelenség. Tünetei a specifikus fóbiával mutatnak hasonlóságokat, fokozott szociális félelem esetén azonban felmerülhet a szociális szorongás gyanúja. Más szorongásos zavarokhoz hasonlóan gyakrabban fordul elő nők körében. Kialakulásának hátterét egy pánikszerű negatív érzelem képzi, amely kondicionálás útján asszociálódik a zenei teljesítményhelyzettel. Protektív faktorként tekinthető az énhatékonyság-érzés és a vonásszintű tudatosság, ezek hiányában gyakran jár együtt depresszióval és perfekcionizmussal. A társuló zavarok miatt kezelése komplex, azonban megfelelő terápia és gyógyszeres kezelés pozitív változásokat eredményez. Az oktatási intézményekben jelenleg nagy szükség lenne olyan előadói készségfejlesztő kurzusokra és szakmai programokra, amelyek tájékoztatásra adnának lehetőséget a zenei teljesítményszorongást és annak kezelését illetően.
... They found that music students' knowledge about the information provided increased at both time measures. Khalsa & Cope (2006) found that yoga and meditation were potentially useful for preventing performance anxiety. Finally, Voltmer, Schauer, Schröder and Spahn (2008) studied orchestra musicians and compared them to physicians, both at the beginning of their careers. ...
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/digitizedtheses/3215/
The purpose of this study was to understand the lived-experience of professional instrumental musicians who have experienced playing-related injuries. This study used a hermeneutic phenomenological methodology developed to examine this lived-experience. In-depth interviews were conducted with ten professional musicians. This was followed by a focus group where preliminary findings were presented to participants and their feedback was sought. Other sources of lived-experience included participant-observation by the researcher, who is a musician and has experienced injuries; and biographic and artistic representations of musical performance and its loss, including literature, films and television.
The findings were summarized in a visual representation unique to this study. The representation illustrates three roles – musician, worker and teacher – that are participated in, and disrupted by, the experience of being injured. In addition, the experience of a playing-related injury takes place within the context of a healthcare system which was perceived as insufficient to meet their needs. Specialized care was rarely available, and if available, was not local or timely; treatment operated on a fee-for-service model when many musicians had meagre incomes and lacked coverage for these services; and treatment provided often failed to allow musicians to continue to perform at the level they had previously achieved. Finally, the representation illustrated four existentials – lived time, space, body and social relations – that permeated the experience. This study suggests that improvements to healthcare delivery and education of musicians, music teachers and healthcare professionals are needed. It also suggests that occupation and the experience of flow can be detrimental to health, and this impact needs to be considered in future research and in clinical applications.
... Profile of mood states (POMS) is a "well-known, well-validated, reliable, and internally consistent self-report questionnaire." [9] It consists of 65 adjectives rated on a five-point scale. There are subscale scores for six mood states: tension, depression, anger, vigor, fatigue, and confusion. ...
Context/background:
Many studies showed positive effects of Yoga Asanas. There is no study on Maharishi Yoga Asanas yet. This research replicated and expanded observed improvements on the profile of mood states (POMS) as a result of 2-week Maharishi Yoga Asanas course. Thirteen college students taking part in a 4-week course on Maharishi Yoga Asanas were matched with 13 students taking other courses at the university.
Aims and objective:
The main objective of the study was to assess the effects of Maharishi Yoga Asanas on mood states, degree of happiness, and experiences in Transcendental Meditation (TM) practice.
Methods:
All students were given two psychological tests and additional question before and after their 4-week course: POMS, Meditation Depth Questionnaire, and question about the degree of happiness.
Results:
Repeated measure MANOVA showed the 4-week Maharishi Yoga Asanas course resulted in significant increase in happiness during the day and significant improvements in (1) sense of personal self, (2) transpersonal qualities, and (3) transpersonal self during their TM practice.
Conclusion:
This research shows that Maharishi Yoga Asanas affect more than body and mind. Rather they influence much deeper levels of one's subjectivity including one's transpersonal self.
... It is assumed that the response of symptomatic subjects to the interventions may differ from that of individuals who present 'normal' levels of MPA, which is considered common in the music profession. Two other points that may also explain this divergence is the technique utilised for each study, as well as the diversity in the number of sessions [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18] . ...
Background
Music performance anxiety (MPA) is characterised by fears related to performing music. It may result in damages to personal life and professional career, so treatment and prevention are very important.
Objective
To undertake a systematic literature review on the effectiveness/efficacy of MPA interventions and to integrate these findings to those in the literature reviewed previously.
Methods
We used PubMed, PsycINFO and SciELO databases and keywords music*, performance anxiety, treatment, therapy and intervention and manual research. We selected articles published between October-2002/July-2016.
Results
Out of 97 articles, 23 were reviewed. Sixteen studies presented inter-group experimental design, and seven presented pre-post experimental design. The intervention modalities reviewed were cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), virtual reality exposure, biofeedback, yoga, meditation, music therapy and the Alexander technique. Although the interventions presented some indicators of efficacy in the MPA outcomes and improvement in performance quality, important methodological limitations were observed: low number of individuals and non-specific criteria for their inclusion/exclusion. This reinforces previous findings regarding methodological fragilities associated with this context.
Discussion
CBT is the most frequently studied modality and with the greatest number of effectiveness indicators. The remaining modalities indicate tendencies in positive outcomes that require further and efficient investigation in more rigorous studies with greater methodological control.
... Yoga is an all-inclusive organization of multiple mind body practices for mental and physical health that include physical postures and exercises, breathing techniques, meditation, profound relaxation techniques and promotion of mindfulness [2]. Yoga and meditation practices have been demonstrated to cut down onapparent stress [7,8] and better one's mood [9]. In [2], the researchers in the United States of America (USA) concluded that yoga practice was better for mental and physical health than regular physical exercises. ...
... Entre las más frecuentes intervenciones educativas para combatir el miedo escénico en estudiantes de música encontramos las terapias conductuales (Nagel, 2010), o las intervenciones cognitivas (Sinico y Winter, 2013), aunque con frecuencia se combinan diferentes tipos de intervención (Mcginnis y Milling, 2005), por lo que se hace difícil extraer consecuencias consistentes de la superioridad de un tipo de intervención sobre otro (Osborne y Kenny, 2008). Ocasionalmente, se ha utilizado musicoterapia, hipnosis, técnica de recuperación de recursos ericksoniana, ingesta de betabloqueantes (Kelly, Radu y Saveanu, 2005), técnica Alexander y otras técnicas de relajación y concienciación corporal (Khalsa, Butzer, Shorter, Reinhardt y Cope, 2013;Khalsa y Cope, 2006;Khalsa, Shorter, Cope, Wyshak y Sklar, 2009;Stern, Khalsa y Hofmann, 2012) y de trabajo de la respiración (Su, Luh, Chen, Lin, Liao, y Chen, 2010;Wells, Outhred, Heathers, Quintana y Kemp, 2012). ...
Music Performance Anxiety (MPA) is, frequently, one of the problems faced by a musical performer in his career. In this study, it has observed how stage fright affects in different artistic fields, which are the possible factors that may later develop the anxiety in public performances and, above all, how we can intervene to mitigate or reduce its effects. An initial interview is conducted to four higher flute (music) graduate students and some training techniques - relaxation techniques, mental training and pedagogical instructions based on evaluation and sequencing objectives- are applied to them while they were learning a musical piece. After the procedure, another interview is performed to know the effects and effectiveness of the intervention. The results obtained suggest that performers feel safer, and their level of arousal in performances is reduced with this sort of preparation. It could suggest the introduction of similar procedures in the curriculum of musical interpretation from the early years of instrumental study.
... This was observed with yoga practices in musicians that yoga and meditation may be beneficial as a routine practice to reduce performance anxiety in musicians. 22 Yoga practices prior to exams in medical students improved concentration, improved efficiency, increased attentiveness, and significant reduction in number of failures. 23 Available reviews of a wide range of yoga practices suggest they can reduce the impact of exaggerated stress responses and may be helpful for both anxiety and depression. ...
Background: With the current globalisation of the world's economy and demands for enhanced performance, stress is present universally. Life's stressful events, anxiety and depression cause both deleterious and cumulative effects on the human body. The practice of meditation might offer a way to relieve that stress. This study was designed to determine the effectiveness of a group stress reduction program based on Rajyoga meditation for patients with anxiety and depression. Method: The study was conducted on 100 patients suffering from anxiety and depression who were on similar drug regime. They were randomised into two groups; Meditators (n=50; age 34.12±9.05 years) and controls (n=50 age 33.68±10.78 years). The meditators were taught Rajyoga meditation and practised for 20 min/day, 7 d/week for 6 weeks. The control group did not practice any type of meditation. Results were assessed by using Hamilton anxiety and depression scales. Results: The patient with anxiety and depression symptoms in intervention group and control group showed significant improvement following six weeks of intervention as suggested by significant reduction in scores of HAM-A (p<0.001) and HAM-D (p<0.001). However, the percentage of relief was more in intervention group as compared to control group. Conclusion: A short-term, yoga-based lifestyle intervention may significantly reduce anxiety and depression and improve subjective well-being and personality.
... This was observed with Yoga practices in musicians with the relative reduction in performance anxiety, musculoskeletal conditions, and mood and flow experience. [50] Yoga practices prior to exams scores. Question number 8 "pleased" with positive improvement. ...
Background: The beneficial aspect of positive emotions on the process of learning and the harmful affect of negative emotions on coping with stress and health are well-documented through studies. The Home Guards (HGs) are working in a very stressful situation during election, managing traffic and other crowded places. It is quite essential in present day circumstances that they have to manage their emotions and cope up with different stressful situations.
Objective: To study the efficacy of integrated Yoga module (IYM) on emotions (positive and negative affect [PA and NA]) of HGs.
Methods: A total of 148 HGs both males and females who qualified the inclusion and exclusion criteria were randomly divided into Yoga group (YG) and control groups (CG). The YG had supervised practice sessions (by trained experts) for 1 h daily, 6 days a week for 8 weeks along with their regular routine work whereas CG performing their routine work. Positive affect negative affect scale (PANAS) was assessed before and after 8 weeks using a modified version of PANAS.
Results: PA in YG had significantly increased (P < 0.05) whereas it had decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in CG. Other positive effect in YG had significantly increased (P < 0.001), whereas it had decreased significantly (P < 0.001) in CG. NA in YG had significantly decreased (P < 0.001), whereas it had significantly increased (P < 0.001) in CG. Other NA in YG had significantly decreased (P < 0.001), whereas it had significantly increased (P < 0.01) in CG.
Conclusions: The results suggested that IYM can be useful for HGs to improve the PA and to decrease NA score. Moreover, IYM is cost-effective and helps HGs for coping up with emotions in stressful situations.
... 24 A comparable preventive training program should be developed for musicians; a study on a physical training program for musicians or music academy students with a focus on the upper extremity would be very interesting. Khalsa and Cope, 25 for example, studied the effect of yoga training on a small group of music students, which seemed to relieve performance anxiety but not musculoskeletal problems. Recently, in Australia, a trial was started to study the effects of a training program on orchestral musicians. ...
Objective:
CANS (complaints of arm, neck, and/or shoulder not caused by a systemic disease or acute trauma) are a recognized problem in specific occupational groups such as musicians. This study aimed to compare the prevalence, characteristics, and consequences of CANS between music academy students and a control group of peer-age medical students.
Methods:
A cross-sectional study among music academy students and medical students. Data were collected using a web-based questionnaire on musculoskeletal conditions of the upper extremity in the two cohorts.
Results:
Students of three music academies (n=345) and one medical university (n=2,870) received the questionnaire, of which 25% (n=87) and 18% (n=503) responded, respectively. The 12-month prevalence of CANS was nearly twice as high among music academy students as the control group (80.7% vs 41.5%, p<0.001). Music academy students reported 2.6 times the point prevalence as medical students (47.0% vs 18.2%, p<0.001). Chronic CANS was present in 36.1% of the music students, compared to 10.3% of the medical students (p<0.001). Music academy students presented more complaints per anatomic localization and a higher number of involved anatomic localizations. Music students rated the influence of CANS on daily functioning as more severe (5.0 vs 3.1, p<0.001). Of all subjects with CANS during the last year, more music academy students (46.3%) visited a healthcare professional compared to medical students (29.8%, p=0.013).
Conclusion:
The prevalence of CANS is high in music academy students compared to medical students. This emphasizes the necessity of effective (preventive) interventions in these high-demanding professionals.
... Through the regular study and practice of Iyengar's yoga postures, Menuhin achieved a complete disappearance of his chronic, severe muscular pain (Busia, 2005;Horvath, 2009). Khalsa and Cope (2006) investigated the effects of a yoga lifestyle intervention on a sample of young professional musicians participating in the Tanglewood Music Festival. Though the study did not result in a reduction of PRMD symptoms in the study's population and time frame, they stated that the practice of yoga did result in improved mood and reduced performance anxiety. ...
... With respect to psychological benefits, yoga has been reported to improve anxiety (Khalsa & Cope, 2006;Smith et al., 2007), decrease depressive symptoms (Krishnamurthy & Telles, 2007;Vedamurthachar et al., 2006), enhance positive mood states (Culos-Reed et al., 2006;, improve self-regulation (Shapiro, 1982) and improve quality of life in general (Chen & Tseng, 2008;Oken et al., 2006;Sareen et al., 2007) Other studies indicate the potential efficacy of yoga or components of yoga with the military. Brown and Gerbarg (2005) found that yoga helped depression in service personnel, as well as some intrusive and avoidance symptoms in a non-military population with PTSD. ...
... While the goal of yoga historically has been to create a spiritual state of unity, it is also practiced to produce physical and emotional wellbeing. Research suggests that yoga can improve mood (Streeter et al., 2010), anxiety (Khalsa & Cope, 2006;Kirkwood, Rampes, Tuffrey, Richardson, & Pilkington, 2005), sleep disturbance, hypertension and headaches (Field, 2011). For example, Streeter et al. (2010) recruited a non-clinical sample through advertisements and then randomly assigned participants to a yoga (n=19) or walking (n=15) group. ...
Unlabelled:
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment for generalized anxiety disorder, but there is still room for improvement. The aim of the present study was to examine the potential benefit of enriching CBT with kundalini yoga (Y-CBT). Participants consisted of treatment resistant clients at a community mental health clinic. A total of 32 participants enrolled in the study and 22 completed the programme. After the Y-CBT intervention, pre-post comparisons showed statistically significant improvements in state and trait anxiety, depression, panic, sleep and quality of life. Results from this preliminary study suggest that Y-CBT may have potential as a promising treatment for those suffering from generalized anxiety disorder. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Key practitioner messages:
Yoga-enhanced cognitive behavioural therapy (Y-CBT) may be a promising new treatment for those suffering from generalized anxiety disorder. Y-CBT may also reduce depression in those suffering from generalized anxiety. Y-CBT may reduce depression and anxiety in a clinic population where clients suffer from multiple diagnoses including generalized anxiety disorder.
... 251) is described by various texts as a -spectrum of ecstasy‖ (pp.[251][252]; Mallison(Gheranda and Mallison, 2004), in his English translation of the Gheranda Samhita, talks of samadhi as the last of the sevenfold yoga, namely -isolation‖, aimed at activating the psycho-spiritual possibilities closely inherent in the subtle body system; specifically, the chapter on Dhyana teaches -three types of samadhi‖ (p. ...
The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to make intelligible order out of the whole phenomenon of subtle body energy in relation to healing and transformation in the present day meaning of health, psychology and spirituality. This was done by drawing on meditational, transpersonal and health science literature.
Health science literature on the application of specific yogic subtle body modalities supports the initial notion that these are non-invasive, safe and effective. However, this study argues for a further implementation of research on the transpersonal multidimensionality of individuals, as this could produce effective application of alternative subtle energy modalities.
My final overall conclusion, based on the interpretative phenomenological analysis of the interdisciplinary literature and experiential data, is that the theory of subtle energy in healing is quite likely to be more than mere speculation.
... Reduced levels of somatization and anxiety are associated with Yoga practice [13,14]. Yoga and meditation may be beneficial as a routine practice to reduce performance anxiety in musicians [15]. It has been observed that women suffering from mental distress and participating in a Lyengar Yoga class show significant improvements in measures of stress and psychological outcomes [16]. ...
Background
Yoga is a psychophysical, spiritual science of holistic living, aiming towards body and mind development; it can influence well-being, cognitive processes, personality (Gunas), psychophysiological parameters, and human health. Since it has been observed that Morningness-Eveningness disposition is associated with personality, and that personality can characterize people practicing Yoga, in this exploratory study we posited that Morningness-Eveningness might be associated with personality in Yoga trainees. Since Yoga can have influences over cognitive perspectives, and since it has been observed that Morningness-Eveningness disposition can associate with cognitive processes, we investigated a sample of Yoga trainees with reference to relationship with styles of learning and thinking (relevant aspects of cognitive functioning) and also with Morningness-Eveningness disposition.
Material/Method
We tested 184 Yoga trainees using the following questionnaires: Styles of Learning and Thinking (Torrance), Big Five Questionnaire (Caprara, Barbaranelli, Borgogni), and reduced Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (Natale).
Results
We found that Morning types score significantly higher than Evening types on Conscientiousness, Friendliness, Scrupulousness, Openness to Culture, emotional Stability, emotion Control, they score higher than intermediate types on Conscientiousness, Friendliness, Scrupulousness. Moreover, data showed that the high majority of subjects, also with reference to Morningness-Eveningness disposition, have right-sided styles of learning and thinking, pointing out a tendency towards right-sided cognitive precessing in the whole sample. Personality traits of the Yoga trainees were also investigated.
Conclusions
Data are discussed with reference to existing literature, psychological and neuroscientific perspectives are suggested, previous studies about Yoga published on Medical Science Monitor are also considered.
... Extended hours of work have caused them to neglect family concerns, causing work–family conflict. Earlier studies suggest that the personal resource of SWB (Russell, 2008) and practicing yoga and meditation (Khalsa & Cope, 2006 ) and the job resource of social support (Park, Wilson, & Lee, 2004) are positively linked to job performance. Contradicting the notion, this study suggests that SWB and practicing yoga and meditation are inversely linked to job performance. ...
This study examines the antecedents, consequences, and buffers of job burnout among software developers using job demands resources theory. Data were collected from 372 software developers in India using questionnaires. Results reveal that software developers experiencing more role ambiguity, role conflict, schedule pressure, irregular shifts, group noncooperation, psychological contract violation, and work–family conflict are at a greater risk of job burnout. The most important antecedent of job burnout was found to be work–family conflict. Job burnout increased job performance but decreased organizational commitment and interpersonal relationships. Subjective well-being and practicing yoga and meditation were inversely related to burnout-linked job performance. Subjective well-being, social support, and practicing yoga and meditation were also found to decrease the adverse association of job burnout with organizational commitment and interpersonal relationships. In the context of work-related consequences, job burnout had the biggest adverse association with organizational commitment, and practicing yoga and meditation was found to be the most influential buffer to counter the adverse consequences of job burnout.
Objective
Brass players are exposed to high musculoskeletal strains during their instrumental play. Various assessments can be used to measure these strains, whereby a targeted therapy can also be supported. The aim of this study was to review literature concerning assessments used in quantitatively based studies about the analysis of musculoskeletal loads of brass players.
Data sources
The Cochrane Library, PubMed, CINAHL, PEDro as well as the journal “Medical Problems of Performing Artists” were searched for relevant studies.
Study selection
Two reviewers independently applied the inclusion and exclusion criteria to select potential studies. A third reviewer was involved in the case of discrepancies.
Data extraction
Two reviewers independently extracted the data.
Data synthesis
A total of 73 studies conducted between 2004 and 2019 were included. Within a total of 30 studies, 18 assessments could be found that collect 2-dimensional or 3-dimensional kinematic data using video- or image-based analysis of posture, sonographic, optoelectronic and various electromagnetic systems. In 7 studies kinetic data were measured by force-transducers, pressure platforms, stabilizer and dynamometer. Fifteen studies used clinical examinations and additional assessments to screen individual body regions and 9 studies derived electromyography measurements from a total of 25 muscles. Thirty-one partially validated questionnaires were used to record musculoskeletal pain of brass players.
Conclusions
A variety of assessments can be used to optimize analysis and treatment procedures in research and clinical work. Future studies should both examine quality criteria of the various assessment methods and validate clinical examinations and questionnaires.
La práctica instrumental conlleva una compleja actividad motora y cognitiva que ha sido objeto de múltiples estudios, sin embargo, son escasas las investigaciones que indagan los efectos de programas de intervención diseñados para optimizar el aprendizaje en músicos. En este artículo se ha realizado una revisión de estudios que incluyen como procedimiento metodológico una intervención dirigida a la mejora de la práctica instrumental y que utilicen técnicas de autorregulación del aprendizaje, entrenamiento en habilidades psicológicas o mindfulness. Estos tres tipos de intervenciones, habituales en el ámbito deportivo, son de reciente incorporación en el contexto musical. La principal conclusión que presentamos es que estas intervenciones pueden resultar positivas para las diversas facetas cognitivas y motivacionales del músico, ayudando a lograr una práctica de estudio autónoma y eficiente.
The objective of this systematic review was to determine the safety and effectiveness of any public health intervention designed to prevent and/or manage musculoskeletal symptoms (MSSs) in any type of musician. A total of 14 studies were included. Studies investigated exercise and/or education programs, and changes to equipment, with a range of musicians. There was some evidence to suggest that smaller piano keyboards, and exercise programs may be effective. Studies suggesting a benefit of exercise programs typically had lower level designs and higher risk of methodological bias, compared with those that reported no benefit. Future research should use more robust methods to reduce bias and come to definitive conclusions regarding the safety and effectiveness of interventions prior to implementation, to reduce the burden of MSSs for musicians.
What motivates music students to persistently practice alone in a practice room, and what determines effective instrumental practice?Might methods from applied sport psychology facilitate excellence in music students´ practice and performance? These are essential questions in Johannes Hatfield’s doctoral thesis. Hatfield sought answers to these questions through a survey study, a pilot intervention study, and an intervention study. The latter study tried out psychological skills training from sport psychology in music students´ instrumental practice. The survey study revealed that many music students are unsatisfied with their progress and uninformed about of how instrumental practice can be organized effectively. Students who carefully plan and set goals for their instrumental practice seem to be confident self-regulated learners who apply a wide repertoire of psychological skills. The intervention study revealed that use of practice journals and specific practice planning enhances students’ deliberateness and self-regulated learning. Students who were concerned with perfectionism became mentally tougher, more resilient, and less anxious applying psychological skills. In general, music students became more aware and deliberate in their music aspirations. In essence, learning how to focus one´s attention towards the most relevant tasks in multiple situations was probably the most essential learning outcome. Follow up interviews revealed that the participants continued to use psychological skills eight months after completing the intervention. Hatfield’s PhD project verifies that students’ motivation and ability to self-regulate is closely related to how instrumental practice is organized. Moreover, the project generated empirical knowledge that is both innovative and applicable.
Johannes Hatfield completed his master in music (cello) at The Malmö Academy of Music, Prague Academy of Music and Verona Conservatory. Later, Hatfield studied educational science at Østfold University College and sports sciences at Lillehammer University College.
The goals of the present study are to evaluate, implement, and adapt psychological skills used in the realm of sports into music performance. This research project also aims to build foundations on how to implement future interventions to guide music students on how to optimize practice toward performance. A two-month psychological skills intervention was provided to two students from the national music academy’s bachelor program in music performance to better understand how to adapt and construct psychological skills training programs for performing music students. The program evaluated multiple intervention tools including the use of questionnaires, performance profiling, iPads, electronic practice logs, recording the perceived value of individual and combined work, as well as the effectiveness of different communication forms. Perceived effects of the intervention were collected through semi-structured interviews, observations, and logs.
This study examined the relationship between performance anxiety and flow proneness. Ninety undergraduate music majors (52 females, 38 males) recruited from a major research university volunteered to participate. The data collection instrument consisted of two previously established inventories: the Performance Anxiety Inventory and the Music in Flow Inventory. As predicted, the data showed flow proneness to be significantly and negatively correlated with performance anxiety (r = -0.20, p = 0.034, one-tailed test). The data also supported a prediction that the ability to play/sing without destructive self-criticism would be negatively related to performance anxiety (r = -0.39, p < 0.001, one-tailed). The results suggest that both musical performance anxiety and a flow state of consciousness can exist simultaneously. It appears that creating performance conditions that foster flow may be a useful strategy for helping to alleviate the intensity of musical performance anxiety.
In response to rising interests from patients, many comprehensive cancer centers now offer an integrative model of care which includes the provision of complementary medicine. Yoga is one such intervention that has been used in children. We performed an Institutional Review Board (IRB) approved chart review of pediatric hematology-oncology patients who received yoga. Patients with sickle cell vaso-occlusive pain crises or cancer were offered bedside yoga by a certified yoga instructor. Pain before and after yoga was reported using the 10-point Wong-Baker FACES pain scale. Anxiety before and after yoga was assessed with the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Qualitative patient quotes were extracted from the yoga therapist's notes. Twenty patient's charts were reviewed, 50% were male. The mean age was 18 years, (range 11-26 years.) Most common diagnoses were sickle cell vaso-occlusive pain crises (45%), and sarcoma (40%.) The mean reduction in pain score was 0.94 (SD ± 1.68), p = .005, and the mean reduction in anxiety T-score was 9.62 (SD ± 6.74), p = .0001. Patient quotes suggest that yoga was beneficial, especially for relaxation. Literature review offers preliminary support for the use of yoga for anxiety in children. Our data suggest that further research on yoga as an effective intervention for pediatric hematology-oncology patients for pain and anxiety is needed.
Introduction: Yoga is a holistic system of different mind body practices that can be used to improve mental and physical health. It has been shown to reduce perceived stress and anxiety as well as improve mood and quality of life. Research documenting the therapeutic benefits of yoga has grown progressively for the past decades. Objectives: The primary goal of this study was to investigate the effects of yoga in patients suffering from panic disorder. We aimed at observing the efficacy of yoga techniques on reducing the symptomatology of panic disorder, compared to a combined intervention of yoga and psychotherapy. Method: Twenty subjects previously diagnosed with panic disorder were selected. Subjects were randomly assigned to both experimental groups: Group 1 (G1-Yoga: 10 subjects) attended yoga classes and Group 2 (G2-CBT + Yoga: 10 subjects) participated in a combined intervention of yoga practice followed by a cognitive behavioral therapy session. Subjects were evaluated two times during the study: pre-test and post-test. Psychometric tools included the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), The Panic Beliefs Inventory (PBI) and Body Sensations Questionnaire (BSQ). Results: Statistical analysis showed significant reductions in anxiety levels associated with panic disorder, panic-related beliefs and panic-related body sensations both in G1 and G2. However, the combination of yoga and cognitive behavioral therapy (G2) showed even further reductions in all observed parameters (mean values). Conclusion: This study observed significant improvement in panic symptomatology following both the practice of yoga and the combination of yoga and psychotherapy. While contemplative techniques such as yoga promote a general change in dealing with private events, CBT teaches how to modify irrational beliefs and cognitive distortions. This indicates that the techniques might have complemented each other, increasing the intervention efficacy.
State anxiety, somatization of stress, quality of life, self-rated quality of sleep, and discomfort due to over-breathing which occurs when stressed were studied. Out of a total of 140 participants, seventy participants self-selected to be in a yoga group for stress relief (group mean age +/- SD, 33.0 +/- 6.5 years; 37 males). Seventy age and gender matched participants were in a control group. State anxiety, somatization of stress, quality of life, discomfort and self-rated quality of sleep were assessed using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Symptom Checklist-90-R, SF-12, Nijmegen Discomfort Evaluation Scale and a Sleep Rating Questionnaire respectively. Assessments were made at the beginning and end of the week. Repeated measures ANOVAs with Bonferroni adjusted post-hoc analyses showed a significant decrease in state anxiety (P < 0.001), somatization of stress (P < 0.01), improved health-related quality of life (P < 0.01), self-rated quality of sleep (P < 0.01), and decrease in discomfort due to over-breathing (P < 0.001). No changes (except decreased discomfort due to over-breathing; P < 0.01) occurred in the control group. This study suggests that a brief yoga program may be beneficial in decreasing anxiety, somatization of stress and discomfort, improving health-related quality of life and self-rated sleep quality.
Context:
Professional musicians often experience high levels of stress, music performance anxiety (MPA), and performance-related musculoskeletal disorders (PRMDs). Given the fact that most professional musicians begin their musical training before the age of 12, it is important to identify interventions that will address these issues from an early age.
Objective:
This study intended to replicate and expand upon adult research in this area by evaluating the effects of a yoga intervention on MPA and PRMDs in a population of adolescent musicians. The present study was the first to examine these effects.
Design:
The research team assigned participants, adolescent musicians, into two groups. The intervention group (n = 84) took part in a 6-wk yoga program, and the control group (n = 51) received no treatment. The team evaluated the effects of the yoga intervention by comparing the scores of the intervention group to those of the control group on a number of questionnaires related to MPA and PRMDs.
Setting:
The study was conducted at the Boston University Tanglewood Institute (BUTI). BUTI is a training academy for advanced adolescent musicians, located in Lenox, Massachusetts.
Participants:
Participants were adolescent, residential music students (mean age = 16 y) in a 6-wk summer program at the BUTI in 2007 and 2008.
Intervention:
Participants in the yoga intervention group were requested to attend three, 60-min, Kripalustyle yoga classes each wk for 6 wk.
Outcome measures:
MPA was measured using the Performance Anxiety Questionnaire (PAQ) and the Music Performance Anxiety Inventory for Adolescents (MPAI-A). PRMDs were measured using the Performance-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders Questionnaire (PRMD-Q). RESULTS • Yoga participants showed statistically significant reductions in MPA from baseline to the end of the program compared to the control group, as measured by several subscales of the PAQ and MPAI-A; however, the results for PRMDs were inconsistent.
Conclusion:
The findings suggest that yoga may be a promising way for adolescents to reduce MPA and perhaps even prevent it in the future. These findings also suggest a novel treatment modality that potentially might alleviate MPA and prevent the early disruption and termination of musical careers.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of music therapy for acute and chronic sleep disorders in adults. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis. DATA SOURCES: A systematic search of publications in PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library without language restriction was performed. REVIEW METHODS: Studies with randomized controlled design and adult participants were included if music was applied in a passive way to improve sleep quality. Subgroup analysis was conducted to explore the sources of heterogeneity. RESULTS: Ten studies involving 557 participants were identified. The sleep quality was improved significantly by music (standard mean difference: -0.63; 95% CI: -0.92 to -0.34; p<0.001), with significant heterogeneity across studies. Subgroup analysis found heterogeneity between subgroups with objective or subjective assessing methods of sleep quality, and between subgroups with difference follow-up durations. No evidence of publication bias was observed. CONCLUSION: Music can assist in improving sleep quality of patients with acute and chronic sleep disorders. For chronic sleep disorders, music showed a cumulative dose effect and a follow-up duration more than three weeks is necessary for assessing its efficacy.
This study applied the multidimensional anxiety theory to musicians by examining the intensity and direction of cognitive anxiety, somatic anxiety, and self-confidence over multiple performance requirements among college music majors. This study assessed and compared teacher and student perceptions of the student's performance anxiety and its subsequent impact on several studio lessons and jury performances. Seventy-one college musicians (39 females, 32 males) from the University of North Texas College of Music volunteered to participate in this study. Four different assessment tools were employed in this study: a demographic questionnaire, a modified version of the Competitive Trait Anxiety Inventory-2 (CTAI-2), a modified version of the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2), and a subjective self-assessment of performance. The results showed that of the 71 subjects initially assessed, 59 subjects (83.1%) reported experiencing performance anxiety. This study supports the application of the multidimensional anxiety theory by highlighting the existence of two distinct, yet related dimensions of performance anxiety; how these dimensions change in response to changing stress levels associated with changing demands; and the probable interaction with levels of self-confidence. This study underscores the challenges associated with how teachers may or may not recognize the existence and subsequent impact of performance anxiety among college students. Additional studies are needed to determine what educational variables, including psychosocial values, are associated with the development and fluctuation of self-confidence. Further research designs should implement the CTAI-2 and the CSAI-2 for the assessment of competitive performance anxiety experienced by musicians associated with music performance.
A systematic review of all available treatment studies for music performance anxiety was undertaken. Interventions were categorised into psychological treatments and pharmacological treatments. Psychological treatments included behavioral, cognitive, cognitive-behavioral, combined treatments and other therapies. Issues such as the number of studies in each treatment modality, their sample sizes and the methodological quality of most of the studies reviewed precluded firm conclusions about the effectiveness of any of the treatments assessed for music performance anxiety. The field is in urgent need of larger scale, methodologically rigorous studies to assist the large minority of musicians who suffer from performance impairing music performance anxiety. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2009 APA, all rights reserved) (journal abstract).
The effect of yoga and relaxation changes in psychophysiological parameters in response to the stress of examination in 75 medical students was studied. Initially five parameters (anxiety level, heart rate, blood pressure, galvanic skin resistance and choice reaction time) were recorded, a month before the examination and on the day of examination. Students were then randomly divided into 3 group of 25 each. One group practiced yoga (Group- Y), and another group practiced relaxation (group-R) regularly for three months. The third group was control group (Group-C). All the parameters were recorded after the changes in anxiety level, heart rate, blood pressure, and galvanic skin resistance in response to stress of examination were significantly attenuated and there was significant improvement in choice reaction time in Group-Y and Group-R as compared to Group-C after yoga and relaxation.
Music cognition depends on the existence and deployment of processes for detecting, storing and organizing musical materials according to underlying structural features. Common cultural experiences develop these processes to a certain degree, but specifically designed and supported learning environments are required to achieve the levels of expertise required to perform western art music. Certain motivational and social factors are therefore implicated in the maintenance of activities that promote skill-acquisition, such as practice. Expert musical performance is not just a matter of technical motor skill, it also requires the ability to generate expressively different performances of the same piece of music according to the nature of intended structural and emotional communication. This review examines these abilities and describes how some of them have been shown to have lawful relationships to objective musical and extra-musical parameters. Psychological research is thus engaged in a process of demystifying musical expertise, a process that helps to improve upon culturally prevalent, but ultimately non-explanatory, notions of inborn 'talent'.
To evaluate effects of Hatha yoga and Omkar meditation on cardiorespiratory performance, psychologic profile, and melatonin secretion.
Thirty healthy men in the age group of 25-35 years volunteered for the study. They were randomly divided in two groups of 15 each. Group 1 subjects served as controls and performed body flexibility exercises for 40 minutes and slow running for 20 minutes during morning hours and played games for 60 minutes during evening hours daily for 3 months. Group 2 subjects practiced selected yogic asanas (postures) for 45 minutes and pranayama for 15 minutes during the morning, whereas during the evening hours these subjects performed preparatory yogic postures for 15 minutes, pranayama for 15 minutes, and meditation for 30 minutes daily, for 3 months. Orthostatic tolerance, heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, dynamic lung function (such as forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, forced expiratory volume percentage, peak expiratory flow rate, and maximum voluntary ventilation), and psychologic profile were measured before and after 3 months of yogic practices. Serial blood samples were drawn at various time intervals to study effects of these yogic practices and Omkar meditation on melatonin levels.
Yogic practices for 3 months resulted in an improvement in cardiorespiratory performance and psychologic profile. The plasma melatonin also showed an increase after three months of yogic practices. The systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure, and orthostatic tolerance did not show any significant correlation with plasma melatonin. However, the maximum night time melatonin levels in yoga group showed a significant correlation (r = 0.71, p < 0.05) with well-being score.
These observations suggest that yogic practices can be used as psychophysiologic stimuli to increase endogenous secretion of melatonin, which, in turn, might be responsible for improved sense of well-being.
Psychological conditions were studied in 20 musicians with focal dystonia and compared with 20 musicians with chronic pain and 30 healthy musicians using the Freiburg Personality Inventory and the Questionnaire for Competence and Control Orientations. Additional questionnaires focused on perfectionism and anxiety particularly with regard to the dynamics of these psychological features. Musicians with focal dystonia and those with chronic pain more often displayed anxiety than controls. In both patient groups, anxiety was present before onset of the playing-related disorder. Dystonic musicians additionally showed higher levels of perfectionism than controls, which was not observed in musicians with chronic pain.
This study explored the inter-relationships among state and trait anxiety, occupational stress, perfectionism, aspiration, and music performance anxiety in a group of elite operatic chorus artists employed full-time by a national opera company. The chorus artists reported higher trait anxiety, higher occupational role concerns, and higher occupational personal strain than normative samples. Higher scores on personal resources were associated with the higher scores on trait anxiety. It appears that these resources were used adaptively to manage anxiety. High trait anxiety was also associated with high personal strain in the work environment. Anxiety was not related to occupational roles or issues related to the physical environment or working conditions. These results suggest that while trait anxiety and music performance anxiety were closely associated, occupational stress makes a separate contribution to the quality of working life experienced by elite choral artists.
Between March and June 2004, a systematic review was carried out of the research evidence on the effectiveness of yoga for the treatment of anxiety and anxiety disorders. Eight studies were reviewed. They reported positive results, although there were many methodological inadequacies. Owing to the diversity of conditions treated and poor quality of most of the studies, it is not possible to say that yoga is effective in treating anxiety or anxiety disorders in general. However, there are encouraging results, particularly with obsessive compulsive disorder. Further well conducted research is necessary which may be most productive if focused on specific anxiety disorders.
This study investigated the effect of meditation on music performance anxiety. Participants were. 19 students between the ages of 18 and 41 yrs, who were recruited from the Manhattan School of Music, Mannes College of Music, Yale University School of Music, and State University of New York at Purchase. The experimental group received a series of eight meditation classes, and the control group received no meditation training. After the 8-week training period, all performed in a concert. Pretests and post-tests of music performance anxiety were given and post-tests of state anxiety and of performance concentration. Performance anxiety decreased among participants in the meditation group, in contrast to participants in the control group, whose performance anxiety did not decrease. Differences in regard to post-test state anxiety and performance concentration were not significant. An additional benefit of meditation was a reported increase in relaxation pleasure even in the period immediately before the performance. Results indicate that meditation may be a useful tool for aiding performers to combat performance anxiety.
The goal of the present study was to survey music students regarding their health attitudes, their use of body-oriented training as a measure of preventive behavior, and their playing-related symptoms and consultation for these symptoms with health professionals. In the framework of a cross-sectional study, the music students at the Freiburg Conservatory were investigated by means of questionnaires. One hundred ninety-seven students participated and were evaluated. It was shown that more students believe that health can be actively influenced by one's own behavior than have a fatalistic, passive attitude toward their health. One third of the music students use body-oriented training - increasingly during their studies. The close connection of this phenomenon with the presence of playing-related problems, and the fact that only a very small number of music students indicating no physical problems use a body-oriented training method, suggests that body-oriented training was not practiced for preventive reasons, but was motivated by a need for therapy. Two thirds of the music students stated that they had suffered at least once from playing-related problems; half of the music students felt psychologically affected by such difficulties. Half of the musicians had sought professional help due to playing-related health problems. All in all, it must be concluded that there is minimal consciousness regarding questions of health problems, so that few music students have taken preventive measures up to the present time. Therefore, preventive courses should be offered in order to inculcate health consciousness that would enhance the music students' motivation for proactive health-promoting behavior.
The present study surveyed the occurrence of musical performance anxiety (MPA) among Norwegian conservatory music students, tested for differences with respect to gender, educational level, instruments and type of educational programme. A total of 126 respondents (96.2% response rate) completed a questionnaire containing questions on musical background, perceived performance anxiety, a symptom list and certain variables that related to MPA. A question on whether the informants needed help with MPA related problems was included. The results reveal that MPA is a problem among Norwegian students of music. In the total sample, 36.5 percent report a need for help with MPA related problems. Furthermore, anxiety, both before and during performance was found to be associated with negative affectivity but not with positive affectivity. Gender differences were found regarding perceived anxiety, symptoms of MPA and "need for help". There were no major differences between the two educational levels. Pianists and string players most often reported "high anxiety". There was also a quite drastical difference in symptoms between the students in the jazz line who had substantially lower anxiety symptoms compared to the classical music students. The results have pedagogical consequences for teachers in higher music education.
Most of the medical problems of musicians are the shared consequence of the specific instrument, performance technique, and repertoire interacting with the physical and psychological nature of the individual. The incidence of problems is greater for those instruments requiring more repetitious actions over a longer period of time and in all the risks that are increased by stress. Performing arts medicine has grown worldwide since the early 1980s. Among the goals for this new field are the development of criteria and standards for the practice and the teaching of performing arts medicine. In the meantime, those who are looking for information must keep in mind that performing arts medicine remains a discipline in the making; constructive criticism and questioning by practitioners, educators, and consumers are all necessary and appropriate. This chapter discusses specific medical conditions encountered by musicians and their diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.
Skilled violin and viola players, all of whom had a current performance-related musculoskeletal injury, were asked to report their perceptions of contributing risk factors, consistent with a participatory ergonomics approach. The 26 players, age 18 to 60 years, had been playing for a minimum of 10 years and averaged three hours of practice per day. In addition, 7 music health experts, all with more than 10 years of clinical experience in treating musicians, were asked to report on the risk factors for musicians' performance-related injuries. A high correlation between the perceptions of these two groups was found, with the same top five factors in terms of severity indicated by both groups. Factors rated as high risk were primarily intrinsic and related to the manner in which respondents practiced, to playing posture, and to flaws in skill technique.
Objective:
The purpose of this study was two-fold: To obtain descriptive information regarding general physical and mental habits of music students and to ascertain if there are any associations between specific daily activities or habits and the appearances of these injuries.
Study design:
Questionnaires were distributed to three hundred music students at Boston University. Of the 45 respondents, 19 students were willing to participate in an interview. Descriptive statistics were analyzed and comparisons were made to a similar study which was conducted at New England Conservatory in Boston, Massachusetts (Hagglund, K., Unpublished study, 1994).
Results:
The results suggest that Boston University music students follow expected trends reported in previous research (Fishbein and Middlestadt, 1988; Manchester and Fielder, 1991; Hagglund, 1994). Eighty two percent (n=37) of the respondents were performance majors and the majority of them began playing their instrument at age 10. Out of the 45 respondents, 28 were female of whom 68% (n=19) reported having a music-related injury. Of the remaining 17 males, 53% (n=9) reported also having a music-related injury. Sophomores and juniors accounted for 15 (54%) of the total 28 musicians with injuries in this study. The typical practice habits that were described by the respondents included 2 h sessions, with 10-15 min breaks each hour. Most musicians disclosed to occasionally playing their instruments even when experiencing pain. RESULTS from this study suggest that as the hours spent playing increased, so did the incidence of injury. Medical attention from neurologists, general practitioners, performing arts specialists and laryngologists was pursued by 18 (64%) of the 28 injured musicians. Sixty-one percent of the respondents with injuries saw more than one rehabilitation specialists, including physical therapists (50%); Alexander/Feldenkrais teachers (44%) and massage therapists (28%). More than one treatment method was given to 74% of the injured. These treatment methods included methods such as: Altering posture, habits or playing technique, exercise and stretching, rest, ice and massage. Satisfaction in career and the ability to live up to self expectations was high, while performance anxiety was not bothersome for 82% of the respondents. Fifty-two percent reported reacting well to stress and 44% described having an average level of self-consciousness. Most respondents (89%) participated in some type of physical fitness, most exercising either one (30%) or three (23%) days a week, and 75% reported that they stretch prior to playing.
Conclusion:
This study provides information on the general habits of music studtents which can be beneficial to rehabilitation specialists, as well as other medical professionals treating musicians. By understanding the lifestyles and dynamics of being a musician, rehabilitation specialists can devise better individualized intervention and preventative strategies. Unfortunately, musicians remain uninformed on the current treatments, rehabilitation approaches, and most importantly the predisposing and preventative factors of music-related injuries. Occupational therapists, physical therapists and other rehabilitation specialists can and should be the professionals to provide guidance to the population of musicians on the above mentioned factors.
A comprehensive review of research evaluating psychological treatments of musical performance anxiety is provided. Studies were evaluated against key methodological criteria for psychotherapy outcome research. Available literature points to the utility of exposure and cognitive therapies, although there is no clear-cut evidence suggesting the superiority of one approach or benefits of combining the two. Past research is characterized by recurring methodological limitations, particularly overreliance on self-report outcome measures. Future investigations should consider screening out individuals who do not evidence marked dysfunction and whose anxiety results from weak technical ability, as well as including treatment manuals, multiple therapists, multichannel outcome measures, and follow-up data. Clinicians working with musicians experiencing performance anxiety may wish to incorporate exposure and cognitive restructuring in treatment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Several studies have shown that playing-related musculoskeletal disorders (PRMDs) present a significant health problem for musicians. To examine physiological, psychological, and behavioral risk factors of musicians' PRMDs, data for a case-control analysis were collected from classically-trained professional and university student musicians in the Canadian province of Ontario in 1994. Two-hundred and eighty-one subjects completed a self-report questionnaire and hypermobility and hand-span measurements. Cases were identified according to an operational PRMD definition developed by musicians and health care professionals in a qualitative study. Logistic regression was used to compare data from 44 prevalent PRMD cases who had no previous history of a PRMD, and 90 controls who had never experienced a PRMD. Data from all subjects were analyzed to examine the role of a prior PRMD on the risk of a current PRMD. This study suggests that females and string players were at a higher PRMD risk. A number of other individual characteristics were also important determinants of the development of a PRMD. Warming up before and taking breaks during practice sessions protected the subject from a PRMD. Given the high proportion of musicians who experience PRMDs, prevention programs are warranted. Am. J. Ind. Med. 32:292-300, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Performance anxiety has long been recognized as a problem for musicians. This study aims to assess the role of situational factors involved in music performance anxiety. Performance anxiety of 32 music students was assessed by measuring self-reported anxiety in different performance settings, as well as the students' level of experience, their degree of trait-anxiety, and their degree of social phobia. Performance setting was found to be a critical factor in performance in general and on the influence of social phobia in particular. These results have implications for future research, treatment methods, and the understanding of the relationship between performance anxiety and social phobia.
The Eysenck Personality Profiler and a stress symptom checklist were given to 162 performing artists (33 actors, 26 dancers, 65 musicians and 38 singers) and scores were compared against test norms and a control group. Actors emerged as extraverted and expressive, dancers as unhappy, anxious, hypochondriacal and low in self-esteem, and musicians as somewhat introverted and unadventurous. Singers fell between actors and musicians on most attributes. Around one-third of actors, dancers and singers reported suffering from performance anxiety, and 47% of musicians. All except actors suffered from shoulder-ache significantly more than controls. An exceptionally high incidence of depression (38%) was reported by dancers. Results were compared with previous findings and interpreted as being due to a combination of self-selection in choice of occupation, qualities required for survival within the profession and reactions to the unusual stresses imposed by the performer's lifestyle.
A questionnaire was given to the students and faculty of the University of Iowa School of Music to learn about their experiences with and attitudes about performance anxiety. Forty-nine (16.5%) of the 302 respondents indicated that their musical performance was impaired by anxiety. Over 21% of the respondents indicated that they experienced marked distress while performing and 16.1% indicated that performance anxiety had adversely affected their careers. Women more frequently reported distress and impairment due to performance anxiety than men. Age was not found to affect problems with performance anxiety. Poor concentration, rapid heart rate, tremor, sweating, and dry mouth were the most commonly reported anxious symptoms. Drug and alcohol use among this group of musicians was minimal. The findings suggest that performance anxiety is an important problem that may in some instances warrant medical treatment.
The health profession has become increasingly aware of the frequent incidence of work-related injuries and illnesses occurring among professional musicians. Although all workers run risks of stress-related health problems, performers must work under especially stressful conditions. Musicians must perform before the public; they must perform under the constant critical scrutiny of conductors; and they are expected to perform perfectly. Stressors, some unique to the music profession, some shared with other working populations, can come from the environment in which musicians must work, from psychological pressures, and from factors intrinsic to a performing career. In response to the increasing incidence and awareness of the health problems of professional musicians, music medicine, a new medical specialty, has come into being. Physicians who treat performers can act as resources to educate their patients about work-related stress and to refer them to appropriate mental health professionals. They can be instrumental in helping musician patients return to performing careers with a new ability to handle work-related injuries and stress.
Performing Arts Medicine is a broad field that includes the study of medical conditions and injuries incurred by dancers, instrumental musicians, and vocalists. This article summarizes the most relevant literature of approximately the past 10 years concerning the musculoskeletal and neuromuscular conditions of musicians. A literature search was done for relevant articles in English by physicians or scientists. Some older, but fundamental, articles are included; incidental case reports were excluded to the extent possible. Included were articles on incidence, prevalence, pathophysiology, diagnosis, treatment, and biomechanical studies in musicians. Although nearly all of these conditions are the same ones seen in the general work force, it is clear that their occurrence patterns in the professional musician are unique, as is their impact on the life and livelihood of the patient. The content of the Arts Medicine literature does not permit a truly critical review. Research in the last 10 years appears not to have been done in a true blinded, random case-controlled fashion. Many authors support their statements with only their respective clinical experiences. The research cited here includes 58 series, 9 case studies, 5 surveys, 2 pre/post intervention studies, and 1 double-blind crossover clinical trial.
Twenty girls between 10 and 13 years of age, studying at a residential school were randomly assigned to two groups. One group practiced yoga for one hour fifteen minutes per day, 7 days a week, while the other group was given physical training for the same time. Time for planning and for execution and the number of moves required to complete the Tower of London task were assessed for both groups at the beginning and end of a month. These three assessments were separately tested in increasingly complex tasks requiring 2-moves, 4-moves and 5-moves. The pre-post data were compared using the Wilcoxon paired signed ranks test. The yoga group showed a significant reduction in planning time for both 2-moves and 4-moves tasks (53.9 and 59.1 percent respectively), execution time in both 4-moves and 5-moves tasks (63.7 and 60.3 percent respectively), and in the number of moves in the 4-moves tasks (20.9 percent). The physical training group showed no change. Hence yoga training for a month reduced the planning and execution time in simple (2-moves) as well as complex tasks (4, 5-moves) and facilitated reaching the target with a smaller number of moves in a complex task (4-moves).
Skilled violin and viola players, all of whom had a current performance-related musculoskeletal injury, were asked to report their perceptions of contributing risk factors, consistent with a participatory ergonomics approach. The 26 players, age 18 to 60 years, had been playing for a minimum of 10 years and averaged three hours of practice per day. In addition, 7 music health experts, all with more than 10 years of clinical experience in treating musicians, were asked to report on the risk factors for musicians' performance-related injuries. A high correlation between the perceptions of these two groups was found, with the same top five factors in terms of severity indicated by both groups. Factors rated as high risk were primarily intrinsic and related to the manner in which respondents practiced, to playing posture, and to flaws in skill technique.
Among professional musicians as well as among music students, performance anxiety occurs frequently and can cause considerable distress. As the professional development starts early among future musicians, younger samples are of great interest, but to date, few studies have examined adolescents. The present survey explored performance anxiety in a sample of 15-19-year-old pupils who attended a German special music school. Of those pupils, 74 participated in the study (93% response rate). In addition to frequency and expression of performance anxiety, coping strategies were assessed. Results pointed to the high frequency of performance anxiety in this sample; about one third of the group were distinctly handicapped by their anxiety. Unfavorable coping strategies, such as drug or alcohol abuse were rarely reported. Most pupils called for more support either from their teachers or from outside of school to cope with their anxiety.