Performance Coaching
Josephine in HMS Pinafore with Anthony Warlow, Opera Australia
Why performance coaching for singers
Challenging psychological problems commonly arise for student singers during their training such as music performance anxiety (MPA), perfectionism, procrastination, shame & self-critical thinking. Professional musicians experience the same problems, along with additional ones such as occupational burnout, career uncertainty, auditioning pressure, financial insecurity, vocal injuries and more.
​
Natalie is trained in the evidence-based performance coaching model known as Acceptance Commitment Coaching (ACC). This coaching model is a non-clinical application of the effective behavioural psychotherapy Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT). ACC has shown promising results in mitigating problematic performance related issues such as MPA when delivered by trained singing and music teachers (Shaw et al., 2020; Mahony et al., 2022) and has also been shown to positively correlate with peak performance and increased performance quality (Juncos et al., 2017, Juncos & de Paiva e Pona, 2018).
​
Equipping yourself with the psychological skills to facilitate peak performance, foster growth and maintain well-being is as important to your vocal studies as learning technique and developing artistry.
At Peak Vocal, ACC performance coaching can either be incorporated into your singing lessons or delivered as separate sessions.
Queen of Night in The Magic Flute, Opera Australia
What to expect from performance coaching
The content of your performance coaching is guided by your individual needs and aspirations. You can expect to cover areas such as: improving present moment awareness, strengthening focus and attention, increasing emotional flexibility, building tolerance to distress or distraction before/during performance; utilising body awareness as a route to being present, identifying your performance related values, generating performance related goals and committing to action in pursuit of these, facilitating self-compassion as a performer and cultivating artistic presence.
Blonde in Seraglio, Opera Australia
Group Workshops
There are a variety of formats available for booking an ACC performance coaching workshop to be delivered in a group setting.
​
Workshops may have a duration of anything from a 3-hour single session to 6 x 60 min sessions spread over 6 weeks, depending on the audience and context for the course.
​
Workshop content may include didactic lectures, group skill development exercises, individual skill development exercises, between-session home practice and open group discussion.
​
Please reach out to discuss the specific requirements and details of your event.
References
Juncos, D. G., Heinrichs, G. A., Towle, P., Duffy, K., Grand, S. M., Morgan, M. C., & . . . Kalkus, E. (2017). Acceptance and commitment therapy for the treatment of music performance anxiety: A pilot study with student vocalists. Frontiers in Psychology, 8:986.
​
Juncos, D.G., & de Paiva e Pona, E. (2018). Acceptance and commitment therapy as a clinical anxiety treatment and performance enhancement program for musicians. Towards an evidence-based practice model with performance psychology. Music & Science, 1, 1-17.
Mahony, S. E., Juncos, D. G., & Winter, D. (2022). Acceptance and commitment coaching for music performance anxiety: Piloting a six-week group course with undergraduate dance & musical theatre students. Frontiers in Psychology, 13:830230.
Shaw, T. A., Juncos, D. G., & Winter, D. (2020). Piloting a new model for treating music performance anxiety: Training a singing teacher to use acceptance and commitment coaching with a student. Frontiers in Psychology, 11:882.
