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Double Bass 1 in 3 classical musicians suffer from physical pain, depression

Andy Mopley

Andy Mopley

Sep 24, 2011
1,335
318
#1
According to a study I read recently, one in three (34 percent) of classical musicians suffers from physical pain and two in five feel anxiety during performances. The highest cause of anxiety is lack of practice (37 percent), followed by personality (33 percent) and lack of stage experience (18 percent).

"Music performance pains were significantly related to both depression and suicidal ideation."

I am quite surprised by these figures, I wonder how many here can (and are willing) to share their experience.

Moderators - if it doesn't belong here, please move accordingly.

A sensitive topic, fully appreciate this.

Regards to all
 
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#2
I'd be pretty anxious if I didn't practice too. Something like 1 in 5 people suffer from an anxiety disorder anyways, so I'm not sure that combined with anxiety from lack of preparation and experience is really surprising or even a bad thing.

Chronic pain is no joke though, especially if there's no clear solution to it. "This is how it's going to be until you die" is a hard pill to swallow.
 
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#3
Myself I was a carer for a relative with Ptsd for #20 years.....Ive been diagnosed with it myself now & other stuff that's genetic) But now I'm older its only music(s) and being into that from the start that's kept me going and given me pleasure/pride ect in life generally!! Its how I cope with my medical stuff on all levels.....
My pah got me into hippy-rock with his records But he didn't stick with it as time went on shame as he was an emotional/artistic type and he needed an outlet for that and he did get more I'll from not having better self-awareness of his own types!!
I'm learning bass as a newbie and it damn-well hurts esp my back) so Ive adjusted my practise position(s)
But honestly I feel released elated determined able when I practise bass so I feel its worth it to suffer a bit more) I feel "at one" with my bass despite the pains and the world just slips away.....Its "music therapy" & "time out" from lots of hours during the day/night that are medicated/isolated and often just sucking-loads tbh....
Goals/projects/time-out inbettwen the regular life stuff means life is "managed" Ive learnt some coping stuff that my Pah didn't/cldnt But its genetical and its not curible-its for life tbh....
 
#5
Andy Mopley said:
According to a study I read recently, one in three (34 percent) of classical musicians suffers from physical pain and two in five feel anxiety during performances. The highest cause of anxiety is lack of practice (37 percent), followed by personality (33 percent) and lack of stage experience (18 percent).

"Music performance pains were significantly related to both depression and suicidal ideation."

I am quite surprised by these figures, I wonder how many here can (and are willing) to share their experience.

Moderators - if it doesn't belong here, please move accordingly.

A sensitive topic, fully appreciate this.

Regards to all
Click to expand...
I'm quite taken aback suprised by these figures.....But I guess if its an orchestra that's kinda pressure(s)?!?
Did it say that it made them want to give up playing Or to carry on?!? I'm disabled person and I know goals/outlets can "save you" from ending up being overwhelmed by medical stuff that just goes on and on!! It will "steal away" your life if it can you need to "take back" what it steals from you.....
BTW my psychology guy/therapist plays the drums and he runs too....he's told me)
 
#10
Sure, wathaet..I wasn't so much pointing to the validity of the study (from a statistical point of view, and 100% with you on it) but rather trying to understand if we all go through some of the stages described therein, and if the figures, based on our own experience, may be realistic. For example, I, for one, do have my share of anxiety prior to a performance, which is most likely due to lack of practice (and possibly talent)...Certainly physical pain has been discussed, at lengths.
 
#11
There's so much psychological stuff to be considered. I have come back to playing within the last 5 years after a gap of almost 30 years. In my "first" career, I played in the National Youth Orchestra, studied at the RCM and played solos in some of the biggest and grandest concert halls in the world. All with only a trace of nerves or anxiety - just enough to focus my mind. On my return, the idea that an audience was listening to me as an individual would give me palpitations, hand tremors, sweating, nausea, tunnel vision to the extent that I almost gave up entirely. It's gradually getting less difficult, but still a major issue. Why now? Why not then? Who knows, but I'm not surprised so many musicians report physical or mental problems.
 
#13
If those surveyed were students, the survey is not that surprising, The worst stage fright I have ever had (about the only stage fright I can remember) was in a dark, local "bucket-o-blood" local bar, which I had played in many times, with fewer than ten strangers in the audience. I've played in stadiums, and once, at a festival with over 100,000 in the audience (Knebworth in UK) with no stage fright, ever. Go figure, I can't.

Steven
 
#14
notabene said:
If those surveyed were students, the survey is not that surprising, The worst stage fright I have ever had (about the only stage fright I can remember) was in a dark, local "bucket-o-blood" local bar, which I had played in many times, with fewer than ten strangers in the audience. I've played in stadiums, and once, at a festival with over 100,000 in the audience (Knebworth in UK) with no stage fright, ever. Go figure, I can't.

Steven
Click to expand...
That's interesting, because I'm the same way. I've played in an orchestra in front of hundreds of people and wasn't nervous at all. But in a smaller venue with only a handful of people (or during solo/ensemble competitions in high school), I'd be really nervous. I think it was because I was able to ignore larger crowds (especially in a large ensemble), but when there is more focus on me, it would freak me out a little.
 

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