Institute of Sociology NASU

Online learning and performance anxiety among vocal university students in a Ukrainian frontline city during wartime in the context of sociology of music

stmm. 2026 (3): 176–191

DOI https://doi.org/10.15407/sociology2026.03.176

Full text:

KATERYNA BATAEVA, Doctor of Sciences in Philosophy, Professor at the Department of Social Rehabilitation Technologies, Zhytomyr Institute of Economics and Humanities, University “Ukraine” (18, Vilskyi Shliakh St., Zhytomyr, 10020)

bataevaekaterina72@yahoo.com

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4628-4817

SCOPUS ID: 57204186366

OLHA BATAIEVA, Leading concertmaster, Department of Solo Singing and Opera Training, Kharkiv I. Kotlyarevsky National University of Arts (11/13, Maidan Konstytutsii, Kharkiv, 61003)

olhabataieva69@meta.ua

https://orcid.org/0009-0000-6180-5265

In this article, we explore the specifics of online learning and music performance anxiety among vocal students at a conservatory in a frontline city of Kharkiv during the Russo-Ukrainian war. The empirical part of the article is based on the results of a study conducted from September to December 2025 using semi-structured interviews with twelve vocal students at the Kharkiv I. Kotlyarevsky National University of Arts. This article compares (1) online vocal learning and face-to-face lessons with professional collaborative pianists and teachers; and (2) online performances at virtual concerts with participation in live concerts held in basements or safer cities in Ukraine. Our research reveals the disadvantages of online learning for vocal students during the war: poor acoustics at home; lack of emotional and physical contact with the teacher and collaborative pianist; the absence, or significant limitation of public performances; irregular vocal lessons; and a decrease in motivation to learn. The advantages of online learning and performances for vocal students include the opportunity to focus on self-education; improvement of skills in working with various internet platforms for editing audio and video; and improvement of skills in critical self-analysis of their performances based on recordings. The current study found out two factors affecting vocal university students’ MPA during the war: prolonged online learning and negative emotions associated with frequent shelling of the frontline city. It can be concluded that prolonged online learning interrupts vocal students’ experience of accumulating public performances in front of a live audience, which does not contribute to the formation of a musician’s self-efficacy (especially if this occurs during the formation of their professional identity).

Keywords: online learning, music performance anxiety (MPA), vocal university students, wartime, sociology of music

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Received 07.02.2026

Accepted for publication after review 12.06.2026