Recent research on the processes underlying musical performance anxiety indicates that cognitive and physiological factors are both involved. The cognitive disturbances centre around worries concerning potential catas- trophes, performance quality and exaggerated beliefs about the importance of any particular musical performance. It is argued that stage fright and more general stresses in musicians' careers are related. A survey of career stress in professional orchestral musicians and student musicians is described. Finally, the implications for coping strategies in the management of stage fright are outlined.
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