<p>i'm performing a small piano concert later this week, and, as always, i'm super nervous. no matter how many times i perform, my fingers get all clammy and i become really shy beforehand. i was wondering what all your methods are for overcoming stage fright before you have to make a performance or something like that, be it playing an instrument or putting on a show or giving a speech.</p>
<p>i know some people have special rituals before things like this, and i was wondering what yours are.</p>
<p>I've been singing for 9 years, but I don't really do anything. Just take some nice deep breaths and remind yourself that you wouldn't be doing this if you weren't competent.</p>
<p>Find a couple people in the audience that you know (parents, friends, whatever). Locate them before you begin to play. During the recital, if you get a sudden case of the tummy scrunchies, glance at them and say to yourself, "They're paying attention. I can't be doing too bad." Concentrate on what you're going to play, not on what you've just played, because your brain will get confuzzled if it's doing two things at once. If you've noticed that your fingers get slippery when you sit down, then take a handkerchief or tissue with you and wipe your hands off just before you start. Above all, just realize that sometimes, a little nervousness is a good thing.</p>
<p>Take a deep breath and tell yourself that you'll be fine. Realize that you'll never see most of the audience again, and they probably won't remember you specially unless you're amazing. Don't worry about what the audience thinks while you're playing; concentrate on your playing.</p>
<p>I suffer from the exact same problem. I've been a first clarinet all four years of HS, but I've always been afraid to play solos or audition for Districts due to my extreme fear of playing in front of people. I can play solos perfectly, but I freeze up when I actually have to play them during rehearsal.
One day, I was in a very bad mood and realized that no matter how much I mentally prepared for the solo, I would still mess up thanks to my fear. So, I approached the solo with a "Oh, screw it!" mindset, and just PLAYED. I played it perfectly... because I wasn't obsessing over playing everything correctly.
So, I conquered my fear! Now, instead of counting measures anxiously or fingering notes whenever I had rests before the solo, I just relax, don't think about how I have to remember to use the alternate Bb fingering, and simply play.
It sounds stupid and simple... but it worked for me. I'm not sure if you can CONSCIOUSLY stop caring, though. It just kind of happened with me.</p>
<p>I agree with LesOs. I play horn and for the most part, I can play well at home or when I'm practicing by myself but when I play in front of people I keep worrying about screwing up. Thinking about screwing up normally is followed by screwing up.
So when a tough part of the song is coming up, I try not to think about it. I say something in my head like, "Pink elephants. Pink elephants" to keep my mind off it until it comes up so i can just play it without really thinking. It's silly but kind of works.</p>
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Find a couple people in the audience that you know (parents, friends, whatever). Locate them before you begin to play.
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be careful with this though!!!!!!!
I never have problems with stage fright, except when I see people I know.
practice a lot in a performance type mindset. then when you get to the performance, don't look the audience. just completely ignore them, and try to feel like you're practicing again.</p>
<p>i find that when i'm at home playing (i've been playing for about 9 years now), i can let the music take over me and i barely even read the notes. one time when i played for my school this year, i let the music captivate me and i ended up making people cry (which is a good thing ;)). but just a couple months later, i was playing a very easy piece in front of a single judge, and messed up big time. i had stopped paying attention to the notes and started paying attention to the sound of the music, and in a split second i was woken up to reality and totally forgot where i was in the song. i recovered from it ok, but still, it was not a fun experience. </p>
<p>i have a very easy audience this week, but of course, i'm still frightened.</p>
<p>My band teacher always told us that when preparing for an audition or a solo, do 25 jumping jacks before you sit down to practice. That way, you'll get used to playing when you're shaky/sweaty and slightly distracted.</p>
<p>I've also heard that eating one or two bananas about half an hour before you perform is helpful - something to do with potassium.</p>
<p>Well, you should really only focus/ think of people who know you very well, have seen you mess up previously, and really won't hold an mistakes against you. I get really nervous at piano recitals as well, and honestly, sometimes, it just helps to know " I already made a mistake while performing this piece, it's already screwed up, I might as well go on." You can do that by purposely playing the wrong note to start off, then play the rest correctly</p>
<p>Think about how awesome you are. Think about how you've played the part perfectly over and over and over. Think about how many years you've doing this. Think about playing for yourself and no one else. </p>
<p>And if all else fails, think about how it's not the end of the world if you mess up one little note.</p>
<p>It's true that the watermelon-advice was for giving speeches where you're actually looking at the audience, but you should be able to apply it somehow to your piano performance.</p>