Hanging the appropriate chord: Reminiscence-driven emotional waves elevate wind instrument expertise. Credit score: Shinya Fujii from Keio College
So as to keep a long-term profession and constantly ship high-quality performances, skilled musicians are required to train management over their psychological state earlier than and in the course of the efficiency. Nevertheless, managing feelings may be difficult, as they’re usually influenced by a spread of uncontrollable components, together with fellow performers and viewers, venue, and the character of this system.
The a part of our nervous system that unconsciously regulates involuntary bodily capabilities like coronary heart charge, respiration, blood strain, and so forth., is called the autonomic nervous system (ANS). Part of the ANS—often known as the sympathetic nervous system (SNS)—prepares our physique for demanding conditions by triggering the stress response, generally often known as the “fight or flight” response.
Prior analysis on this space means that SNS activation can enhance musical performances. Nevertheless, the exact mechanism stays unknown. Some research counsel that constructive feelings affect and affect SNS actions, decreasing stress, boosting confidence, and enhancing efficiency usually. Recollection of constructive previous recollections, evoking pleased feelings, may activate the SNS, improve emotional valence, and result in an enhanced efficiency.
Impressed by the will to unravel methods that may assist enhance musical performances beneath strain on stage, Aiko Watanabe, a saxophonist, got down to undertake additional investigation. “As a saxophonist, I have long been interested in understanding what allows musicians to perform at their best, especially under the pressure of the stage,” says Watanabe, a Ph.D. candidate on the Graduate College of Media and Governance, Keio College, and this examine’s predominant researcher.
The examine was led by Affiliate Professor Shinya Fujii, and was revealed in Frontiers in Psychology on September 2, 2025. Sotaro Kondoh, a JSPS Analysis Fellow, and Tomohiro Samma, a Ph.D. scholar, each from Keio College, have been additionally part of the analysis crew.
The crew evaluated thirty-six lively and skilled skilled basic wind instrumentalists. The devices performed by the contributors included flute, horn, trombone, and so forth. The performers have been requested to recall both a constructive autobiographical reminiscence, or a unfavourable autobiographical reminiscence, or no recollections in any respect, previous to the efficiency.
Electrocardiogram (ECG) measurement was achieved in the course of the reminiscence recollection section of the contributors. The identical musical piece was performed by all instrumentalists for 5 minutes after this reminiscence recollection section.
All of the contributors needed to do a subjective analysis, the place they evaluated their very own efficiency, and an goal analysis, throughout which they evaluated the efficiency of the opposite thirty-five performers. The subjective analysis trusted valence, which represents the constructive or unfavourable high quality of an emotion; arousal, reflecting the depth or activation degree of an emotion; and efficiency achievement.
The researchers noticed that efficiency achievement rating, together with valence and arousal scores, was larger in contributors who recollected constructive recollections earlier than the efficiency. SD2/SD1 ratio—an indicator of SNS exercise—exhibited the next change in contributors with constructive reminiscence recollection in comparison with the remainder, indicating an elevated SNS exercise.
These findings point out that constructive efficiency recollections, accompanied by SNS activation, improve valence and improve arousal throughout efficiency, in the end contributing to improved efficiency. As Dr. Fujii explains, “This means that what matters is not simply physiological arousal itself, but how musicians interpret and regulate their bodily state. Positive memory recall is one effective strategy to foster such positive interpretations.”
These findings can have implications past idea, in a manner that musicians can profit throughout their efficiency. Methods like constructive reminiscence recollection may help reframe their physiological arousal earlier than happening stage. Deliberate recollection of constructive efficiency recollections can shift the interpretation of heightened arousal from “anxiety” to “readiness.” Performers can really feel extra assured and expressive throughout their performances. This method may additionally be utilized to music training, serving to college students with stage fright administration, and growing more healthy efficiency habits.
Sharing her concluding ideas, Watanabe provides, “These findings highlight the importance of individualistic interpretation of physiological arousal in high-pressure situations. Such reframing strategies can also benefit athletes, public speakers, and other performers.”
Trying forward, these findings can pave the way in which for growing methods to include in coaching strategies that cut back efficiency anxiousness, assist the performers’ well-being, and in the end allow optimum on-stage efficiency.
Extra data:
Aiko Watanabe et al, Enhanced subjective efficiency achievement in wind instrument taking part in by way of constructive reminiscence recall: results of sympathetic activation and emotional valence, Frontiers in Psychology (2025). DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1544069
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From reminiscence to melody: How constructive recollections elevate musical efficiency (2025, September 24)
retrieved 24 September 2025
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