Full Text Available
Note: Clicking the button above will open the full text document at the original institutional repository in a new window.
Exploring experiences of music performance anxiety among music students at a South African tertiary institution
Thesis (MMus)--Stellenbosch University, 2026.
Saved in:
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2026
|
| Tags: |
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1867614103021813760 |
|---|---|
| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Cronje, Armin |
| author2 | Salonen, Bridget Rennie |
| author_browse | Cronje, Armin Salonen, Bridget Rennie |
| author_facet | Salonen, Bridget Rennie Cronje, Armin |
| author_sort | Cronje, Armin |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Thesis (MMus)--Stellenbosch University, 2026. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/135702 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:46:42.610Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| publishDateRange | 2026 |
| publishDateSort | 2026 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/135702 Exploring experiences of music performance anxiety among music students at a South African tertiary institution Cronje, Armin Salonen, Bridget Rennie Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Music. Thesis (MMus)--Stellenbosch University, 2026. Cronje, A. 2026. Exploring experiences of music performance anxiety among music students at a South African tertiary institution. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/e1f5de02-18b4-4764-920e-3a935fd2ec3f Music Performance Anxiety (MPA) is one of the most prevalent and debilitating health conditions that musicians of all ages, levels, and genres face, and tertiary music students often experience MPA to a higher degree than professional musicians. However, there is a lack of research on MPA in the South African (SA) context, with no known research on MPA in tertiary music students in SA. Utilising a qualitative approach, this study aimed to explore the MPA experiences of a sample of SA tertiary music students, following a descriptive survey design. Multi-dimensional perspectives on MPA recognise the interaction between internal (psychological and physiological) and external (performance environment, social, and contextual) factors. Grounded in the multi-dimensional Person-Task-Situation model (Herman & Clark, 2023), the research aimed to better understand how the students experience MPA; investigating how they perceive the impact of the physical and psychological elements of MPA on their performance capabilities and overall well-being; their perceptions of the facilitative and debilitative nature of the elevated arousal associated with MPA; and what strategies the music students employ to mitigate and/or manage their MPA. Data were collected via an anonymous qualitative online survey with open-ended descriptive questions. This method enabled participants to provide in-depth responses in their own words, capturing their own views, personal experiences, and practices. The survey answers were analysed thematically, following Braun and Clarke’s (2006;2021) Reflexive Thematic Analysis. The results of this analysis identified three main themes: Contributing Factors, Impacts, and Strategies, supported by 10 sub-themes. The findings reveal a wide range of MPA understandings, management strategies, perceptions, and experiences. The music students demonstrated knowledge and experience of MPA’s debilitating impacts. However, there was less knowledge, awareness, and understanding of MPA’s facilitative impacts, as well as lack of constructive strategies to cope with debilitating MPA. There is a need for enhancing knowledge and competencies in evidence-based MPA management strategies for music students. Additionally, provision of resources and training for music teachers in the tertiary setting would enable better MPA management integrated in teaching methods, provision of appropriate treatment pathways, and cultivation of positive teaching/learning environments. Due to the MPA stigma and concealment, despite the fact that it is so common, there is a need for open conversations about MPA to facilitate students’ better understandings, their ability to access professional help, and the development of individualised management strategies. Masters 2026-04-08T08:57:31Z 2026-04-08T08:57:31Z 2026-03 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/135702 en Stellenbosch University 93 pages application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Cronje, Armin Exploring experiences of music performance anxiety among music students at a South African tertiary institution |
| title | Exploring experiences of music performance anxiety among music students at a South African tertiary institution |
| title_full | Exploring experiences of music performance anxiety among music students at a South African tertiary institution |
| title_fullStr | Exploring experiences of music performance anxiety among music students at a South African tertiary institution |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring experiences of music performance anxiety among music students at a South African tertiary institution |
| title_short | Exploring experiences of music performance anxiety among music students at a South African tertiary institution |
| title_sort | exploring experiences of music performance anxiety among music students at a south african tertiary institution |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/135702 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT cronjearmin exploringexperiencesofmusicperformanceanxietyamongmusicstudentsatasouthafricantertiaryinstitution |