International Journal of Music and Performing Arts

Characteristics of Psychophysiological Responses during Amateur and Professional Piano Performances: Focus on the Presence and Absence of an Audience
Bannai Kurara, Imanishi Taira, Oishi Kazuo

Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics of psychophysiological responses during piano performances in two conditions: with and without an audience. Participants were female Japanese piano players including two professional and four amateur players. The Features of Agari Experience Questionnaire (FAEQ) was used to assess psychological response levels during performance. Heart rate and its variability (low frequency [LF] / high frequency [HF]ratio)were used to evaluate the physical responses during performance. The results showed that the FAEQ scores were almost similar under both conditions for the professional piano players. Scores were higher inthe audience-present condition than the no audience condition for the amateur players, indicating higher psychological response. Although heart rate showed similar values under both conditions in all piano players, the LF/HF ratio was higher under the audience-present condition than the no audience condition in all piano players, and the increase in the size was greater in the professional piano players. These results suggest that professional piano players did not recognize negative reactions of the mind and body even though the sympathetic nervous system was dominantly activated when playing the piano in public.

Full Text: PDF     DOI: 10.15640/ijmpa.v6n1a4