In-Person Presentation
Dr. Aya Higuchi Hagelthorn
Rehearsing the Nerves: Performance Anxiety Tools for Your Studio (with a VR First Look)
Performance nerves are a familiar part of musical life, but for some students, ordinary nerves can develop into music performance anxiety that interferes with memory, physical control, confidence, and enjoyment of performing.
This interactive workshop will explore practical ways teachers can help students recognize and manage performance anxiety. Participants will learn how to distinguish typical pre-performance nerves from anxiety that may require greater attention, while examining the physical and psychological responses that can occur under performance pressure.
The session will introduce strategies that can be incorporated into any studio, including establishing consistent pre-performance routines, gradually increasing performance exposure, and helping students reframe nervous energy. Participants will also consider how teachers can talk with anxious students in ways that acknowledge their experience while giving them concrete tools for approaching future performances.
Dr. Hagelthorn will also offer a first look at Piano Lab Pro, a project using extended reality to allow pianists to rehearse performing in a simulated recital hall. Participants will explore how emerging technology may provide additional opportunities for students to practice the experience of performing before stepping onto a live stage.
The workshop will conclude with a practical symptom-and-strategy resource that teachers can begin using with their students and themselves. Participants will leave with concrete tools for helping performers approach the stage with greater preparation, awareness, and confidence.
About the Presenter
Dr. Aya Higuchi Hagelthorn is a Lecturer of Piano Pedagogy at the University of Michigan, where she serves as Director of Collegiate Class Piano and Coordinator of the Piano Pedagogy Laboratory Program. Her research interests include generative artificial intelligence and emerging technologies in piano teaching and learning. She is also a member of the College of Examiners at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto.
