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Performance Anxiety and Powerpoint
Attitude and Aptitude Change
Julie Jaffee Nagel, Ph.D.
Recently, I was invited to give a presentation on my new book, “Melodies of the Mind” at a Grand Rounds for physicians at a local hospital. Happy to have the opportunity to take both psychological and musical concepts outside the consulting room and concert hall, I decided to create a powerpoint presentation. I felt this was a way I could illustrate my ideas and make musical and psychological theories entertaining visually as well as musically.
Proud of myself for figuring out the powerpoint technology and confirming arrangements about attachments, cables, and projectors, I arrived at the presentation eager to interact with the audience. I hoped that what I had to say would help attendees think outside the box and use music and mental health concepts creatively in their work.
All began smoothly as planned until I got to the first powerpoint where I wanted to illustrate a music example.
If you have not already imagined the worst scenario, please do so now.
Blank screen. No music. “You are not connected” flashed over the screen. Numerous audience members rushed to the rescue – none of them finding the answer to resolve this technical malfunction. Time was passing; my frustration was rising.
I decided to continue with only the powerpoint and describe the music verbally – ironically this was counter to my theme that music could express feelings that words could not. Here I was, using words to describe music. Try it sometime.
The remainder of the presentation went off without a hitc….people enjoyed it many thanks and condolences about the equipment were offered. I knew I had to make sure, as best I could, that this would not happen again. I was determined that I would find some expert to help me embed my music into my powerpoint presentation. I did not want any more technology malfunctions in public!! Maybe this expert would be a 10 year old child.
To my surprise, I could not find anyone who knew how to embed a Youtube into a powerpoint. Realizing that I was feeling helpless, I changed my attitude. I thought that I could figure it out myself.
I went online and sure enough, there were numerous examples explaining what I hoped to accomplish. Not all were clear to me, but one seemed to speak a language I could understand. I followed directions ( numerous times) and after a day of persistence and a “can do” attitude, I succeeded.
Need I describe the sense of empowerment I experienced. Also the satisfaction that I need not have technological - performance anxiety when I want to illustrate music in a powerpoint. Another presentation out of state shortly after my anxiety inducing experience restored my confidence; both music and images worked.
Maybe this seems insignificant to those you who are into the world of technology and whose keyboards are computers. For me, trained on the piano keyboard and subsequently in psychology– this was more than figuring out embedding music youtubes into powerpoint. It was confirmation of an attitude shift that enabled me to solve a problem and to add to my sense of positive self-esteem and competence.
After all, isn’t feeling competent and confident the attitude that is an essential antidote to reducing performance anxiety - or any other self doubt?
Julie Jaffee Nagel, Ph.D. is a psychologist-psychoanalyst in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She is a graduate of The Juilliard School with a major in piano performance and a minor in stage fright. She is also a graduate of the University of Michigan and the Michigan Psychoanalytic Institute. Dr. Nagel publishes and presents on the topics of performance anxiety and music and emotion. Her book, “Melodies of the Mind” was published in 2013 by Routledge Press. Visit her website at julienagel.net.
