Page 17 - How to Shine on Stage

found that academically successful individuals have more pronounced
personality traits of emotional stability and diligence (Stajković et al.,
2018). Diligence is believed to be the greatest indicator of academic suc-
cess (Rimfeld et al., 2016). When comparing athletes, the most success-
ful tend to be those who exhibit higher levels of openness, diligence, and
emotional stability in their personality structure (Steca et al., 2018). In
music, interestingly, research examining the predictive value of personal
characteristics in musical performance is scarce. Ksenija Mirković Ra-
doš et al. (2003) found that musical success in younger schoolchildren de- 15
pended on discipline, emotional stability, independence, and self-trust.
Jasmina Pekić (2008) concluded from the results obtained that the suc-
cess of musically talented secondary school students was associated with
a high level of acceptance, diligence, and openness. Marija Janković and
Bogaerts (2021) found that performance success in musicians and ballet
dancers depended on low levels of neurosis, on perceptual abilities, gen-
eral intelligence, and diligence. Here, we have briefly considered the per-
sonal characteristics of successful performers in general. We will address Performance Delivery Success
the personal characteristics of musicians in continuation.
Sport psychology boasts a considerable amount of research on per-
formance success, and musical performance psychology looks to it for
reference.
Matej and Maks Tušak (2003) state that an essential factor for a suc-
cessful performance is to develop and maintain a stable internal well-be-
ing (psychological consistency). Mental fortitude is a learned skill. The
process of learning mental fortitude is similar to learning any other phys-
ical skill. There is a high level of performance consistency among the top
performers. The level at which performers will be able to use their abil-
ities depends largely on the practice and maintenance of a specific type
of inner mental state. Excluding the influence of physical factors, the
level of one’s performance is influenced by the reflection of one’s inner
well-being. There is an ideal inner state for every performer. The indi-
vidual perceives their optimal performance state with specific sensations.
The most important mental skills in performing are those related to cre-
ating and maintaining the optimal performance state. Mental fortitude
requires a high level of control of the ideal inner state.
While the optimal performance state has received a great deal of at-
tention in sport psychology, it is only in the last 10 years that advances have
been made in the musical performance psychology, both from a research
perspective and an applied perspective. It has been found that athletes,
when performing well, report complete relaxation, optimal levels of en-
ergy, freedom from anxiety and fear, and a sense of well-being. They feel