Psychological Challenges Affecting a Performer in Public Solo Recital: Strategy for Boosting Confidence

Performing in front of an audience can be a psychologically demanding activity for many music performers. Although there are many factors contributing to performance anxiety like the performer’s personal disposition to stress and the performance conditions. performance anxiety is often seen as a sign of weakness and is therefore often not discussed openly. However, Performance anxiety is a problem that almost every musician suffers with in one way or another. The paper looked at the problem of psychological challenges affecting a performer in a public solo recital. The objective of this study is geared towards boosting the confidence of musical performers with the focus of restraining them from drug enhancement for a better society and good health.  This study used qualitative research methods to gather data through the review of relative literature and interviews for this paper. The paper revealed that most performers suffered psychological challenges like anxiety, nerve, and unbalance before and during performance resulting in drug inducement to boost their confidence. This occurs to instrumental, vocal, and dance performers as well. The study concludes that though performance anxiety cannot be completely ruled out, training on how to manage and interact with the audience during a performance may increase the confidence of a performance, and prevent the self-indulgence of drugs that is prevented among artists.