How Music Education Students Use Pre-Performance Rituals to Manage Pressure and Anxiety

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Sunday 7:45 am - Gold 2
  In Roundtable Session: Curricular Perspectives in Music Teacher Education

Abstract

This mixed-methods study explores how music education students use pre-performance rituals to manage high-stakes performance pressure. Survey responses from 65 students revealed that 93 percent use some form of ritual, often involving repeated actions, symbolic meaning, and peer or teacher influence. Qualitative analysis showed that rituals help regulate anxiety, boost confidence, and foster a sense of control. Nearly half of the reported rituals involved symbolic elements. The study also found that students often develop these practices through experimentation and informal guidance. These findings suggest that rituals play a key role in students’ emotional preparation and may be a culturally meaningful yet underexamined aspect of music pedagogy.

Author

• Oksana Komarenko, Ball State University