Effect of Performance Forms (Memorized and Non- Memorized) and Gender on Piano Students’ Stage Performance Anxiety
Keywords:
Performance forms, Gender, Piano, Stage performance anxietyAbstract
The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of performance forms (memorized and non-memorized) and gender on piano students’ stage performance anxiety. Participants in this study included 22 piano students at a university in the United States. Data were collected through questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS 23.0. Results indicated that most participants preferred solo piano performances without a musical score rather than piano accompaniment performances with a musical score. Participants experienced higher performance anxiety during solo performances compared to accompaniment performances. Most participants attributed their anxiety to “task difficulty” and “effort.” Performance forms had a significant effect on piano stage performance anxiety, and gender had a significant effect on the physiological reactions to solo performance anxiety and the psychological reactions to performance anxiety. Based on the effects of performance forms and gender on piano stage performance anxiety, different strategies should be applied for different performance forms and different performers (males and females).
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