Music performance anxiety is a debilitating and complex condition. The most common symptom is excessive nerves before or during performance - but it can encompass a whole range of physical and mental symptoms at varying degrees and stages. In the most severe cases, performance anxiety can cause ongoing overwhelming symptoms of dread, fear, and anxiety. This can strike before or during a performance and can affect your ability to perform. Over time, it might cause performance avoidance and missed opportunities, damage your career or even threaten your livelihood. Others will have milder symptoms or more occasional instances of excess nerves which may make them question their ability to play to their potential. These can be just as debilitating when they catch you off-guard or during an important performance. Longer term symptoms of anxiety can leak into all areas of your life and significantly affect your quality of life. Feelings of worthlessness, self-loathing and self-doubt can lead to addictions, depression and significant mental health issues if left unaddressed. Most performance anxiety help for musicians is generic and fails to target the root cause. My free assessment tool helps you get straight to the root and uncover the hidden patterns which block your flow. Answer 18 questions to get an instant personalised report and tailored plan to unlock performance freedom.

The most common symptoms of music performance anxiety are: Physical symptoms: feeling tense, shaky feeling cold and clammy or hot and sweaty nausea and vomiting, stomach upset a fast, pronounced, or erratic heartbeat rapid, shallow breathing dry mouth, tight throat muscular movements which feel twitchy, clunky or disjointed frozen, unable to move, or an overwhelming urge to run off stage Psychological symptoms: a racing mind negative self-talk, self-sabotaging thoughts brain fog, memory slips, mental confusion dissociation self-doubt and lack of confidence imposter syndrome fear of judgement and fear of failure Any of these symptoms in isolation or combination can make you feel out of control or unable to play to your true capabilities. You might struggle to move your body or use your breath with ease, affecting how easily you use your instrument or voice. Maybe you panic and play too fast, split notes or get a shaky bow. Perhaps you freeze – unable to hit the high notes, get memory blanks, forget your words or in extreme cases, even forget how to play your instrument. You might have negative thoughts such as, “I’m an idiot. Why do I always mess up? What’s wrong with me?” Aside from in-the-moment symptoms, performance anxiety can encompass a whole range of associated symptoms and issues, such as depression, generalised anxiety, addictions, phobias, and constant feelings of self-doubt and not being good enough. I work with musicians who are brilliant at what they do, yet still feel the grip of performance anxiety when the pressure’s on. Through hypnosis, NLP, and years of experience supporting performers, I help reprogramme the subconscious patterns that hold you back, so you can step on stage with confidence, clarity and freedom.

Music performance anxiety is usually characterised by excess nerves or anxiety before or during a performance which interfere with your ability to flow. It can make you feel both physically and mentally restricted (eg. muscle tension, shakiness, involuntary movements, brain fog, memory loss, sabotaging thoughts, along with other potential symptoms). This can make you unable to play with the ease you enjoyed during practice. It negatively affects your performance and/or your perception of performance, which may or may not be visible to others. Some signs that you may have performance anxiety are: You are unable to sustain a constant level of flow during your performance You obsessively practice or over-prepare before a performance You struggle to feel at ease when performing, or moments of ease are fleeting You regularly need beta blockers to get through performing Drinking alcohol (or smoking) helps to calm your nerves before, during or after a performance You crumble under pressure (eg. solos, auditions, trials, new opportunities) It's important to note this is not an exhaustive list - there are different levels of performance anxiety as everyone is different. What feels out of control for you can be manageable to another. My free assessment tool helps you assess your level of performance anxiety and uncover the hidden patterns which block your flow. Answer 18 questions to get an instant personalised report and tailored plan to unlock performance freedom.

It is possible to overcome music performance anxiety with the right approach. Hypnotherapy is a highly effective treatment for moderate to severe performance anxiety. It goes beyond symptom management to create a transformational shift in your perception, behaviours and beliefs at a subconscious level. We effectively rewire the negative patterns and blocks to create new positive patterns of thoughts and behaviour which support you to play to your true potential. As a hypnotherapist for musicians, I 'get' the challenges and struggles of your world. I work with musicians globally to reprogramme the patterns that hold you back, so you can step on stage with confidence. I've developed a powerful free assessment tool that helps you uncover the hidden patterns which block your flow. Answer 18 questions to get an instant personalised report and tailored plan to unlock performance freedom.

Many famous musicians have suffered with performance anxiety. Legendary pianist Glenn Gould famously retired from the concert stage because of it. Barbra Streisand avoided live performances for nearly three decades after forgetting her lyrics on-stage at Central Park. Cellist Jacqueline du Pré, legendary tenor Pavarotti, and pop icons like Adele and Rihanna have all spoken openly about their experience in an attempt to de-stigmatise performance anxiety. It is possible that many more famous musicians struggle with performance anxiety than we can ever realise. For them, the struggle is often a silent one, but it doesn't have to be. I work with musicians who are at the top of what they do, yet still feel the grip of performance anxiety when the pressure’s on. Through hypnosis, NLP, and years of experience supporting performers, I help reprogramme the subconscious patterns that hold you back, so you can step on stage with confidence, clarity and freedom. Book a free discovery call with me to explore how we can work together.

Hypnotherapy is a gentle, powerful therapeutic approach that works with the subconscious mind - the part of your mind that stores habits, beliefs, and emotional responses. Unlike stage hypnosis, which is designed to entertain, hypnotherapy is a safe, collaborative process used to create real, lasting change. In a hypnotherapy session, you’ll enter a relaxed, focused state (a bit like daydreaming or being deeply absorbed in music). While in this state, your mind becomes more open to positive suggestions and new ways of thinking. This allows us to reprogramme unhelpful patterns like fear, self-doubt or anxiety, and replace them with more empowering ones. You’re always in control during hypnosis. You can talk, move, or even open your eyes at any time. Most people find the experience deeply calming and surprisingly enjoyable. Hypnotherapy is backed by research and has been used effectively for everything from performance anxiety and phobias, to habit change and emotional healing.

Hypnosis for musicians is a focused and powerful way to transmute fear into confidence. It allows you to identify and address the root cause of performance anxiety, rather than just managing your nerves. Hypnosis works on a subconscious level to resolve the core beliefs that hold you back in performance so you can tune into your natural state of confidence and flow. My powerful tailored assessment tool is a great way to get started. Answer a short series of questions on a scale of 0-10 to uncover the hidden patterns beneath your performance anxiety. With in-depth results, you'll be shown exactly what's blocking your flow and how to transform nerves into confidence, clarity and ease. Get started now:

Positive Visualisation: One of the most effective self-hypnosis tools for musicians is positive visualisation. How To Practice: Close your eyes and imagine watching yourself from the audience - performing confidently and flawlessly It can help to remember a past positive performance if you struggle to see yourself in a positive light See how you look - confident, in flow, enjoying the moment Feel how you feel - at ease, effortlessly executing your craft, expressing yourself with freedom, focused, flowing Feel your emotions - excited, fulfilled, moved by the music, joyful, transcendent Next, choose a performance in your future, or imagine one and step inside yourself on your imaginary stage. Be in the moment - as if it is happening right now. Feel all the emotions you want to feel and what you want to feel in your body and mind. Practising this technique regularly will help to create new positive neural pathways in your brain, so that when the actual performance moment arrives, your body and mind know exactly what to do and how to be. Reframing Negative Thoughts: Another self-hypnosis technique is challenging negative and self-sabotaging thoughts and replacing them with positive ones. How to practice: Notice a limiting thought you have before a performance Reflect on what you think this thought is telling you (eg. I'm not capable, I'll mess up, I'm afraid of letting myself down) Challenge the thought and belief: ask yourself - "Is that actually true?" Think back to a performance where you proved that to be false Construct a new thought and belief which can create a positive outcome (eg. in my last performance I pulled off a piece I never believed I could, and I was really happy with it because...I am more capable than I think...and that means...I can do it again) You can take this practice further if you want, by slotting in a positive visualisation to conclude. This will help to consolidate your new positive thoughts and prime you for a positive performance outcome. Positive Priming: Before a performance, self-hypnosis can be used to ‘prime’ your mind. You can do this by feeding your subconscious with positive suggestions and embedded commands - statements which your subconscious can use to create a positive perception of performance. How to practice: Use the thought-reframing technique above to create positive statements Add commands for how you would like to perform, such as 'play freely,' 'feel confident,' 'enjoy my performance' Write a short script for yourself, using these statements and commands as building blocks Weave positive performance memories into this, or elements of your positive visualisation if you like Record your script on your phone Listen daily just before you sleep, or just before a performance, whenever you need a boost

Hypnotherapy is one of the most effective methods for treating music performance anxiety. It is a transformational modality that works directly with your subconscious mind to reprogramme the self-limiting beliefs and emotional triggers behind your performance anxiety. It helps you create behaviours which are more positively self-fulfilling for you as a musician. Learn more about how it works in my blog post: The Magic of Hypnosis for Music Performance Anxiety - Transmute Fear into Confidence

The programme will work for you if you are fully committed to the process and recognise that change is not a linear process. Hypnotherapy is a collaborative process and a partnership. As your hypnotherapist, I am there to guide and support you through the process. I am fully committed to your change, and an equally balanced commitment from you is what seals success. Within the programme, you may notice ups and downs, and it takes courage to ride the waves and see the process through to transformation. But it is a process of self-empowerment, based on the understanding that you have all the resources you need to make the changes you want. When you recognise this, you will see that you have the power to shift even the most limiting self-beliefs.

If you're worried you can't be hypnotised, you might be surprised to know you've been in hypnosis your entire life! Most people are asleep to their own programmed patterns and behaviours. Think about driving a car when you can't remember the last 10 miles, or a daydream where you momentarily slip out of your reality - that's hypnosis. Most people are surprised when they realise they’ve been in trance. It is not a special place which you need to reach. It is a natural state of altered consciousness where you feel relaxed but focused, and fully in control and aware of your surroundings.

If you've never had hypnosis before, it's normal to feel a bit apprehensive before your first session. There is no need to worry as I will guide you through the process step-by-step. Most sessions begin with a brief conversation to establish key points for hypnosis. You will then make yourself comfortable in either a reclining chair, couch or bed and close your eyes. Some elements feel like guided meditation, and others will be more dialogue-based where you will (subconsciously) respond to questions which help guide you through the process of transformation. I will bring you out of hypnosis for a brief discussion and then wrap up the session.

The length of your programme will be spread across 3 months.

Most sessions will be 1-2 weeks apart.

It is a good idea to reserve at least half an hour before and after each session to allow space for mental preparation, reflection and insight. Your mind and body need to be relaxed, focused and given space for you to get the most out of your sessions. Rushing into (or out of) your sessions is not advised as it can be disorientating or overwhelming. After a particularly deep session I often recommend a short walk or time in nature to help process and integrate the changes you've made.

Regular performances can give us something to work with and a benchmark to calibrate changes, but you do not need a full diary for us to work together. We are working with the subconscious rather than the practical mind to create long-term change. The greatest visible shifts often happen in the weeks and months following your programme. This will be your chance to see the impact of your transformation on your overall performance.

As part of your programme you have access to the Fearless Musician Collective tools and resources. I encourage regular use of these to help you maintain your confidence between sessions and to help you build a more positive performance mindset while we are working at the level of your subconscious. You will also receive a bespoke audio which you can listen to daily during the programme to consolidate the changes you make during our sessions.

The primary aim of the programme is to help you find freedom from performance anxiety - rapidly, effectively and with sustainment in mind. It is possible to experience significant change during the programme itself, but most see the biggest transformation in the months which follow. The most important ingredient for long-term success is a commitment to change your mindset in line with your transformation. You will have ongoing access to all tools and resources beyond your programme for exactly this purpose. I encourage you to use these regularly to help embed change and positively reinforce your new, healthy mindset.

I don’t recommend anyone for the programme if I do not believe they are a good fit. Before booking, you will need to book a discovery call and complete my free assessment which will help decide your suitability for the programme.

Online hypnotherapy is just as effective as in-person. In fact, it can be even more effective since it requires more focus and effort on both sides of the screen! You also have the added benefit of being in your own space, and that can help a great deal with feeling able to fully relax and let go during hypnosis.

It's important to get your online hypnotherapy setup right before your sessions to ensure your own safety, privacy, and comfort. The best environment will enable you to fully relax without the worry of being disturbed. I recommend the following setup for 1:1 sessions: Set up in a quiet and private space where you know you will not be disturbed - a 'do not disturb' sign might sometimes be necessary to keep family members at bay! Turn off any notifications and sounds on your device or in the room which could disturb you (and me!). Use a device with a large screen such as a computer, laptop or tablet, with the ability to angle it so that I can still see you on the screen. Make sure it is securely propped up and not likely to fall. Headphones are essential – wireless are ideal so that you are not tethered but make sure they are fully charged! Set up a comfortable chair which reclines (and which can cradle your head and neck) or a couch or bed which you can fully lie back on during hypnosis. Practical considerations: A blanket can be useful if you think you will get cold. Make sure all devices and headphones are fully charged or plugged into a charger Tissues are useful to have at hand - emotions can take you by surprise! A glass of water is recommended for the end of your session.

Online hypnotherapy is perfectly safe with the right measures in place. I have protocols in place to ensure the safest possible environment for your sessions. It is important that you make sure you have the recommended setup before each session and follow my guidance in case we lose connection. We will use part of the consultation call for this purpose, so that you can become comfortable with your setup and any adjustments you may need to make.

You can pay in monthly instalments for all my programmes. Instalments are split evenly across the length of the programme.

I do not normally offer a student discount, but please get in touch if your circumstances make it difficult to pay full price. I will assess each individual on a case-by-case basis and may offer a discount at my own discretion.

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Please see my terms & conditions for a detailed refund policy according to specific products and services. Because I want to give my full energy to committed musicians, here’s how my refund policy works: I operate a 14-day cooling-off period for all live programme bookings (only valid up to 24 hours before the first session commences). Any unused or cancelled sessions which form part of the Fearless Musician 1:1 Exclusive cannot be refunded. Rescheduling may be allowed at my discretion, depending on availability. Live scheduled sessions for the Fearless Musician Collective programme which you cannot attend are non-refundable. You will receive a session recording for any missed sessions if requested. All digital products and online self-paced programmes are non-refundable once accessed or downloaded.