Another Tuesday, another cry for help from musicians who can’t handle stress—this time BAPAM is hosting a free webinar on performance anxiety, because apparently even violinists need a therapist to tell them to breathe before they play. 🎻💥
BAPAM delivers expert health and wellbeing services in the performing arts. Their events give artists, creators, technicians, teachers, and organisers the knowledge they need to improve health and enjoy sustainable careers—because apparently playing an instrument shouldn’t require a medical degree. 🏥🎵
Three-quarters of musicians have health problems that can impact their creative work, ranging from minor inconveniences to career-limiting conditions (Ackermann, Kenny 2014). Many of these could be prevented by healthy practice—like maybe not playing 18 hours a day or wearing your violin like a backpack. 😂
This session focuses on evidence-based practical skills and draws from performance experience, research findings, psychology, and proven vocal health clinical pathways—because nothing says “relatable” like a psychologist who also plays violin. 📚🎻
All training is free thanks to community support. Help us create a healthier world for performing arts professionals. Give £10 today—because apparently £10 buys one less panic attack. 💸
**Performance Anxiety** can affect any performer at any stage in their career, appearing weeks, hours, or during the gig, ranging from mild excitement to crippling affliction. Guided by expert psychologist Dr Berenice Beverley Zammit, this session will help you:
– Gain evidence-based practical techniques for reducing performance anxiety
– Understand why we get performance anxiety (spoiler: it’s the spotlight)
– Create a pre-performance routine to reduce anxiety (probably includes deep breathing and affirmations)
– Ask questions and reflect on your own practice (because introspection is trendy)
**Dr Berenice Beverley Zammit – Chartered Psychologist**
Berenice is a psychologist, performance coach, researcher, senior lecturer, and professional violinist. She’s an Associate of the Royal College of Music, London—because who better to fix your stage fright than someone who’s been on stage forever? 🎭🧠
She works with musicians, dancers, actors, athletes, TV presenters, and public speakers—basically anyone who needs to perform without peeing themselves. Her clients include the European Union Youth Orchestra, One Dance UK, and the Malta Olympic Committee. Because performance anxiety doesn’t discriminate—neither does she. 🌍🏆
She lectures in Performance Science, Dance Science, Performance Psychology, Music Psychology, and Performing Arts in Health and Wellbeing. Her research has been presented at ISPS 2023 (Warsaw), ISPS 2021 (Montreal), and various postgraduate symposiums in Amsterdam, Limerick, and Melbourne. She also writes for *The Strad*—because even violins need therapy. 📝🎻
As a freelance violinist, she performs in the UK, Italy, and is a member of the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra. She coaches in English, Italian, and Maltese—so if your anxiety is multilingual, she’s your girl. 🇬🇧🇮🇹🇲🇹
Research shows 70-75% of performing artists suffer mental and physical health problems—way above the national average. BAPAM partners with Equity, Musicians’ Union, Help Musicians UK, and Performing Arts Education Providers, using free training venues. Free venues, free therapy—musicians, you’ve hit the jackpot. 🎪🆓
So grab your sheet music, your therapist, and your £10 donation. Because nothing says “artistic excellence” like not having a breakdown on stage. 🙌
Chuck B. Ballsy, affectionately known in the satirical world as “The Sultan of Snark,” is a self-proclaimed sports expert who peaked athletically in middle school dodgeball.
Born in Halfcourt, Indiana, Chuck spent his formative years shouting unsolicited advice at professional athletes on TV, firmly believing that his couchside coaching was the key to their success.
Chuck B. Ballsy: because in the game of sports and sarcasm, he’s always the MVP. 🏀🎤
