2-Minute Read
The long-standing myth that „a talented musician must suffer” has already been refuted.
„I’ve learned that I can enjoy myself and still write good songs.”
Mental well being and high level musical performance aren’t mutually exclusive. In fact, they strengthen each other.
A recent Danish study examining the experiences of hundreds of professional musicians and conservatory students challenges the long-standing belief that exceptional art requires suffering.
The study was conducted with the collaboration of the Royal Danish Academy of Music, the Danish National Academy of Music and the Royal Danish Opera.
The results reveal striking parallels between musical and athletic performance. Many participants highlighted that mental tools, which can be learned and trained, play a key role in achieving performance presence and flow.
Athletes and artists face similar mental pressure: they must develop mastery and perform at a high level in the here and now, often in the midst of emotional storms.
professional skill | inspired state | self regulation
The study offers a concrete example: a handball player must be strong, fast and technically prepared. A musical performer must be creative and master their instrument.
The same thing also appears in psychological demands:
processing success and failure, balancing ambition and recovery
in other words, they need to navigate between performance pressure and creative development.
When survival mode no longer dominates, the brain is freed up,
and more energy becomes available for play, ideas and emotional nuance,these are the foundation of a strong musical performance.
Can sport mental training be effectively applied in the music industry?
In elite sports, it’s already been proven that well being and mental strength are key prerequisites for top level and lasting performance.
They found that when elite Danish performers mastered pressure regulation strategies, they were more present on stage and achieved higher quality in the studio.
Contrary to their earlier beliefs, they discovered that well being doesn’t block creative work but rather supports it, and in fact it fuels sustainable creation.
OUR PERSPECTIVEThe stage is often described as a tough terrain, where performers constantly have to fight for their place. This kind of pressure is strongly reminiscent of elite sports — and the similarities don’t end there. Artistic excellence, just like athletic mastery, is built through years of practice. It takes countless repetitions and turns musicians into virtuosos of highly specific movement patterns.
Just like in the case of an athlete, the goal for a musician is to access their skills in any situation and allow the flow experience to unfold without getting in their own way: under any pressure, with any stakes, in front of any audience.
The study makes it clear that interventions focusing on mental skills are not just theoretical. They provided effective and practical support for established musicians.
Everything that supports elite athletes in their mental preparation is available to you as well.
Feel free to reach out. The first conversation is free, up to 20 minutes.
It’s a chance for us to explore how we might work together and to find out whether mental training is the right way to reach your goals..