Music performance anxiety: a critical review of etiological aspects, perceived causes, coping strategies and treatment

Abstract Background Music performance anxiety (MPA) is understood as a sub-type of social anxiety and is characterised by fears of a musical presentation. Objective To carry out a critical literature review on clinical and etiological aspects, perceived causes, coping strategies and treatment of MPA. Methods Electronic databases PubMed, PsycINFO and Lilacs as well as specific periodicals were used based on the key-words symptoms, diagnosis, aetiology, perceived causes, coping strategies and treatment. Results MPA is highly prevalent among musicians (> 16%), regardless of culture and fo...