Fox Cities News

A research initiative at Lawrence University has explored the intersection of music, neuroscience, and psychology to address performance anxiety among vocalists. The project was spearheaded by Dr. Karen Leigh-Post, professor of music, and Dr. Elizabeth Becker, associate professor of neuroscience, alongside dual-degree students Ryan Saladin and Dana Abbo.

The study originated when Dr. Leigh-Post noticed that a vocal exercise she used with her students improved their performances. This observation led her to collaborate with Dr. Becker to examine how improvisation exercises could mitigate performance anxiety.

Abbo described the exercise as involving "short melodic fragments on solfege," which singers use to create their own patterns and melodies. Leigh-Post noted that improvisation helps performers focus on future actions rather than past judgments: “You’re always looking at what’s next, and that’s the benefit of improv.”

Dr. Becker highlighted the prevalence of performance anxiety among musicians, stating, “60% of musicians experience performance anxiety," while noting jazz musicians often do not due to regular improvisation practice.

The study involved volunteer singers participating in mock auditions with professional adjudicators. Initially, participants used their own warm-up techniques before performing; their salivary cortisol levels were measured along with self-reported stress and anxiety levels.

After two weeks of practicing the improvisation exercise before auditions, results showed a significant reduction in cortisol levels during performances: “We found that cortisol levels during performance were significantly reduced at the second event after they’d practice that intervention right before their performance,” Becker said.

Both Saladin and Abbo played crucial roles in this interdisciplinary research due to their dual expertise in music and psychology. Saladin remarked on the unique opportunity provided by Lawrence University for such collaboration: “That's a really special and particularly ‘Lawrence’ set of circumstances.”

Abbo emphasized the value of collaborative work across disciplines: “None of us could have produced this research or this paper with just our individual skill sets.”

The findings were presented at The Voice Foundation conference last spring and are slated for further presentations later this year. A manuscript is also being prepared for publication.

Currently, Abbo is pursuing a master’s degree in modern literature in London, while Saladin is continuing his studies in trombone performance at DePaul University.