The Well-being of Musicians: Performance Anxiety as a Case Study
This section discusses how to begin searching for information on a given topic. The example topic is a musician's performance anxiety, and the broader theme is musicians' well-being.
One important component of a musician's well-being is the management of performance anxiety. Below are several tips on where and how you can start searching for information related to performance anxiety. Note that many of these information-seeking strategies can be applied to any research task or information need.
WHERE to Search:
- Library Catalogs: If you are a student, your own institution's or university library is an excellent starting point. Finnish universities have their own Finna interfaces for searching materials in their collections (e.g., uniarts.finna.fi for the University of the Arts Helsinki). Some printed materials, such as older theses, may only be available for use within the library.
- Public Libraries: Explore what public libraries offer through their own catalogs. These collections include both printed and electronic resources.
- Electronic Resources in Libraries: University libraries provide access to various electronic resources, depending on the institution. Students can usually access these with their university credentials, often remotely. Other users can access most of these resources by visiting the library in person. Ask library staff for guidance on using electronic resources. Tip: Relevant materials may also be found in databases from other fields (medicine, psychology, sociology, education) or in multidisciplinary databases.
- Open Repositories (domestic and international): These repositories allow you to search for theses, research articles, and dissertations. Searches typically cover full text, so you can use both controlled vocabulary (e.g., Finto-YSO) and free-text keywords, including colloquial terms.
- Academic Search Engines: Tools like Google Scholar specialize in scholarly information retrieval. You can also use general search engines like Google or explore other options mentioned in the Metropolia University of Applied Sciences Library blog.
- Other Open Resources: Blogs and podcasts can provide practical insights.
- Websites of Associations and Institutions: These often serve as information hubs. For example, the Finnish Society for Music Medicine (SMULY) offers resources on musicians' mental well-being, practice habits, and nutrition. The University of the Arts Helsinki provides online learning materials on physical and mental aspects of instrumental practice.
HOW to Search
- Using Google? General search engines often return large volumes of results, many of which may not meet your needs. Always apply source criticism. Plan your search strategy in advance, for example, by creating a mind map. [Learn more about mind maps here.] Tähän vielä uusi versio mindmapista – tulossa
- Google Scholar for Academic Searches: This free tool excludes ads and irrelevant content, focusing on scholarly publications across disciplines. You can find theses, abstracts, articles, and books. Note that the same results may appear in other sources, such as institutional repositories.
- Keyword Variation: Adjusting keywords changes the perspective and results. Use truncation to include plural and inflected forms—especially useful in Finnish searches. Consider musicians' professional jargon as potential keywords when searching outside library databases. Always check database-specific search instructions for tips on truncation and keyword use. Finto's vocabulary service can help identify controlled terms, including music-related subject headings.
- Full-Text Databases: Non-library databases often search entire text bodies, so any keywords can be used. When searching in foreign-language databases, be mindful of word meanings (e.g., "rock" = rock music vs. stone). See our example of an open-access search in the WorldCat database.
- Local vs. Broad Searches: If you need easily accessible materials from your local area, use local library catalogs. For a broader view, try Finna.fi, which searches hundreds of Finnish library databases simultaneously. Materials from other libraries can often be obtained via interlibrary loan—ask your library for details.
- No Results? Revisit your mind map and consider overlooked perspectives. For example, performance anxiety may also be discussed in medical literature. Check whether you used colloquial terms instead of official subject headings. Remember synonyms: esiintymisjännitys, esiintymispelko, ramppikuume, lavakauhu, rampfeber… [See more on subject headings and keywords here. https://finto.fi/en/]
- Copyright and Ethics: The Finnish research community adheres to good scientific practice and works to prevent misconduct such as plagiarism. Learn more from the Finnish National Board on Research Integrity.
