Why Telling Yourself to “Calm Down” Backstage May Be Counterproductive

Most people intuitively assume that the best way to address performance anxiety is to calm down, but research suggests that this may actually result in worse performances (?!). A 2013 paper describes three studies in different performance domains that give us a counterintuitive - and more effective - way to respond to performance anxiety. Why Telling Yourself to “Calm Down” Backstage May Be Counterproductive ==== * * * Have you ever wondered why it is exactly that things often sound b...

Om Podcasten

Ever wonder why you can practice for hours, sound great in the practice room, and still be frustratingly hit or miss on stage? Join performance psychologist and Juilliard alumnus/faculty Noa Kageyama, and explore research-based “practice hacks” for beating anxiety, practicing more effectively, and playing up to your full abilities when it matters most.