Music Performance Anxiety (MPA) is prevalent among amateur and professional musicians. While music therapy has established itself as an effective therapy for reducing anxiety in numerous individuals with varying health issues, in depth research on the potential benefits of music therapy for managing MPA is lacking. This explanatory sequential pilot inquiry with 15 undergraduate music education majors from two large music faculties in Canada assessed the benefits of group music psychotherapy offered for 6 weeks in person or via telehealth on the experience of MPA. Test measures included the Spielberger State and Trait Anxiety Inventories (STAI) pre and post study, a pre and post study questionnaire, pre and post music psychotherapy session Likert scales for anxiety and mood, and a post study interview. Music psychotherapy interventions included breathing exercises, grounding and guided visualizations/meditations, and musical improvisation. Quantitative data, assessed for all participants combined and by group, revealed that anxiety and mood scores on the Likert scale improved after participation in six music psychotherapy sessions, while the STAI scores remained constant pre and post study. Qualitative themes suggest the benefits of music psychotherapy for changed perception and cognitions, sense of support, reduction in symptoms and overall continued and future management of MPA. The results of this study are promising, pointing to music psychotherapy as a potential short-term therapy for MPA symptom management, having practical implications for post-secondary music education and future research.

中文翻译：

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大学音乐教育专业音乐治疗和表演焦虑的解释性序贯试点调查

音乐表演焦虑（MPA）在业余和专业音乐家中普遍存在。虽然音乐疗法已成为许多患有不同健康问题的人减轻焦虑的有效疗法，但仍缺乏对音乐疗法对管理 MPA 的潜在益处的深入研究。这项解释性的连续试点调查对来自加拿大两个大型音乐学院的 15 名音乐教育专业的本科生进行了解释性的连续试点调查，评估了根据 MPA 的经验提供的为期 6 周的团体音乐心理治疗的好处。测试措施包括研究前后的斯皮尔伯格状态和特质焦虑量表（STAI）、研究前后问卷、音乐心理治疗前后的焦虑和情绪李克特量表以及研究后访谈。音乐心理治疗干预措施包括呼吸练习、扎根和引导想象/冥想以及音乐即兴创作。对所有参与者进行组合和分组评估的定量数据显示，参加六次音乐心理治疗课程后，李克特量表的焦虑和情绪得分有所改善，而 STAI 得分在研究前后保持不变。定性主题表明音乐心理治疗对于改变感知和认知、支持感、减轻症状以及 MPA 的整体持续和未来管理的益处。这项研究的结果是有希望的，表明音乐心理治疗作为 MPA 症状管理的潜在短期疗法，对高等教育音乐教育和未来的研究具有实际意义。