It’s getting to that time: final deadlines are approaching and recitals are just around the corner! At this time of year it is not uncommon to be feeling the pressure, which, although beneficial to some extent, can lead us to feel stressed.
“It’s not always easy to recognise when stress is the reason you’re feeling or acting differently”
https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/feelings-symptoms-behaviours/feelings-and-symptoms/stress/
Identifying symptoms of stress is an important step towards dealing with the problem before it gets worse, or is prolonged. However, as stress can manifest itself in different ways from person to person this can be difficult. Here are some of the most common symptoms:
| Physical symptoms | Mental symptoms | Behavioural changes |
|---|---|---|
| Headaches/ dizziness | Lack of concentration | Sleeping too much or too little |
| Muscle tension/ strain | Struggling to make decisions | Eating too much or too little |
| Stomach problems | Feeling overwhelmed | Avoidance behaviours |
| Chest pain | Constant worrying | Addictive behaviours e.g. drinking more |
| Forgetfulness | Irritability |
The stress solution : The 4 steps to reset your body, mind, relationships & purpose / Dr Rangan Chatterjee Shelfmark: RA 785 CHA
The task of the violinist : skill, stress and the Alexander technique. Shelfmark: ML 851 DOY
You may also be able to look inward and identify the underlying causes. A subpar performance or comparing yourself to someone who is seemingly doing more or better than you can knock your confidence and lead to stress. It’s important not to let these feelings push you towards overworking yourself. Know your limits!
“One athlete’s overtraining might be another athlete’s optimal training regime”
Weinberg, R. S. & Gould, D. (2019) Foundations of sport and exercise psychology (7th Ed.)
The resources below can offer advice on performance related stress:
Stress and performance : creating a performance-enhancing environment for orchestral musicians Shelfmark: ML 3830 HEI
Notes from the green room : Coping with stress and anxiety in musical performance. Shelfmark: ML 3830 SAL
Musical excellence : strategies and techniques to enhance performance [Electronic resource]
And the following book may seem irrelevant, but its chapter on Burnout and Overtraining is very applicable to musicians, and makes for an interesting read:
Foundations of sport and exercise psychology Shelfmark: GV 706 WEI
As well as books in the library, there are many resources available online for musicians coping with stress.
The Musicians’ Union (MU) provides free Feldenkrais and meditation sessions to its members, both of which can relieve stress.
The MU Young Members Network also created a guide specifically aimed at young professionals in the business, with tips on self care and building resilience. The document is free to download and you do not have to be a member of the MU:
You can also find less formal resources by people experiencing life in a similar way to you:
Featured photo by Bernard Hermant on Unsplash
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