audition anxiety in tuba player

College Majors Music Major
21

<p>Allmusic - maybe the parents should be the ones taking the meds! </p>

<p>I just googled "bananas before performance" and found this site (for harps):
<a href="http://www.celticharper.com/bananas.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.celticharper.com/bananas.html&lt;/a>

[quote]
The facts: Well, we haven't exactly done any lab tests. But according to many people, it does work; how effective it is depends on your body chemistry and state of mind. The more you believe it works, the more it seems to work. Is it a panacea? Maybe. But it is apparently based on the bananas containing potassium and "beta-blockers". It's also been suggested that since the pulp of the banana is creamy & mild, it might act as a soothing agent to an agitated stomach. Most people suggest eating one or two bananas about 1/2 hour before performing. If you have a long gig (2 hours or more), you can try eating another banana during break-time about half-way through. For some people, this helps to reduce shaking hands and other stage-fright symptoms (shaking, sweaty hands are one of the most common symptoms associated with stage fright). When I've tried it, the main effect I noticed was that I felt a little more relaxed than usual.

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22

<p>I told my son about the bananas a couple of years ago. He thought I was nuts, but he eats a banana anyway. I'm with Binx. I don't even want to know when my son is having an audition...and when he's playing, especially solo, I just quiver when I go to the concert. I breathe a big sigh of relief when he gets done without mistakes (which I'm always sure he's going to make). Honestly, I don't think it helps to see me in the audience!!!</p>