The Use of Group Music Therapy as a Treatment for Musical Performance Stress

By comparison with high-anxiety freelance musicians merely waiting for treatment or receiving attention minus therapy, similar musicians receiving group music therapy responded with an improved self-image and sense of competence as well as with a reduction in anxiety related to performance. Their musicianship, as judged by others, also improved relative to their untreated colleagues. Nevertheless, in these small samples it was found that group music therapy was ineffective for musicians scoring high on narcissism, suggesting that this therapy should not be employed until narcissistic defenses have been resolved.