Performance anxiety in musicians, its impact on trumpet performance and coping methods

It is a well known fact that human beings experience mood disorders for various reasons since the beginning of humankind. Anxiety disorder is one of the mood disorders in which the individual experiences anxiety related feelings such as stress and fear at a higher than normal rate. Performance anxiety, defined as a subcategory of anxiety disorders, is a psychological problem frequently experienced by people performing in front of audiences, such as musicians. This disorder which has been frequently found in the literature in recent years, can lead to major problems, such as career termination, if it cannot be prevented. There are various methods for coping with performance anxiety which can have physical, mental and behavioral consequences for musicians. While some of these methods should be applied by professionals, others can be applied individually. However, positive and negative effects of applied methods should be evaluated well. Learning how to get over performance anxiety, which can be faced by musicians of all levels, from amateur to professional, is an important point that can make lives of musicians much easier. Within the scope of this thesis, literature studies about performance anxiety, results and coping methods and their effects on trumpet performance and coping methods specific to trumpet performance were evaluated and interpreted.