Raising awareness of performance anxiety and stage fright is crucial, as it enables musicians to recognise and manage their symptoms. This, in turn, leads to improved well-being and enhanced quality of musical performance. The master's thesis presents the main symptoms of performance anxiety, as well as a brief overview of some coping techniques. We described in more detail how the experience of performance anxiety varies according to gender, age, and musical experience. For the purpose of the empirical research, a semi-structured interview was designed to explore the differences and similarities in the experience of performance anxiety between French horn students and professional horn players. The sample included 20 participants – 10 horn students and 10 professional horn players. The results of the study indicate that the experience of performance anxiety changes and improves over time and with experience. Professional horn players report that thorough physical preparation and strong focus on the task are key to a successful performance. In contrast, horn students state that performance anxiety can hinder the quality of their playing, with some even reporting complete performance paralysis.
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