Mark Gould on Showmanship and Nerves

[Steve A]

Personally, I don't use beta blockers because I've never felt like nervousness significantly harmed a performance of mine (at least not as an adult). Lack of preparation, or fatigue, or poorly chosen music, or adverse performing conditions? Yes, those definitely have, but nervousness really hasn't, so I don't personally see the need for any kind of nervousness-related medication.

However, I have friends and colleagues that take beta blockers - some just for auditions, and some for every performance, and these are people I like and respect both personally and musically. My opinion (take it for what it cost you...) is that we all face different and individual challenges in trying to make music the way we want to, and one individual not needing beta blockers doesn't mean that another also doesn't, or is wrong to take them.

[GrowlerBox]

[Honkie]

I am not a professional, so it does not really matter... but: I usually perform worse in public, than in rehearsals and jam sessions. I feel slightly less able to get to a comfortable, "efficient" way of playing.

Recently I was asked to perform Xmas carols solo, without accompaniment, in a non-concert format (meaning, to an unsuspecting, and potentially difficult, audience). For an hour. Nowhere to hide in this scenario. However, it went well, I just decided to focus on breathing well and enjoying the music.

This experience made me realize that performance problems I've had in the past are just psychological problems --- bad attitudes, bad perspectives. In my particular case, the problems are timidity and overthinking.

I have no interest in beta blockers and will never use them. Because of my Xmas carol experience, I have a new plan. I'm going to start busking regularly, as a soloist -- not to earn coins, but as a form of therapy, to become more firmer and more resolute in my music-making.

[rockford]

In both my part time trumpet world and in my full time job (airline pilot) I find when butterflies occur it's usually due to a perceived lack of preparation or thinking about consequences rather than the task at hand. Keeping the focus on doing the job and making things work out well when the mind starts to wander helps me get back on track.
_________________
Bill Siegfried
NY/Mt. Vernon Bach trumpets. Yamaha flugelhorn and piccolo A/Bb, Monette and Hammond mouthpieces. Fender and Peavey Cirrus Bass Guitars. Ampeg and Genz-Benz amps. Embraer 170/175/190.

[tim_wolf]

I do want to throw in a very interesting experience I had a few years ago with stage fright. I had a gig with a big band, and had several solos. The gig started at 3:00 PM. At about 2:45, it hit me that I had forgotten to take my propranolol. Since it takes two hours for it to "kick in," at this point it was too late.

I played great and had no issues with nerves. Why? I have no idea!

[Seymor B Fudd]

[Dark Knight]

I guess you could call it performance anxiety. For example, I would have the terrible shakes to the point where I am fighting to keep the horn on my face. It is not all the time. It depends on the "stakes". For example, in performance class it kicked up bad. Then, as the professor made suggestions and I played the piece multiple times in front of everyone, I relaxed and they went away and I actually started to have fun and open up.

It can happen when the concert piece has an extremely fast tempo and I am happily excited and adrenaline starts flooding the system. I am not sure I would categorize this as the same situation as just describe.

I have always been extremely "high strung" and have white knuckled it because I refuse to be ruled by it.

Yes, I have tried mental imagery, positive self-talk, yoga breathing and exposure therapy. In the latter case, I have forced myself to play my bugle for veteran ceremonies and funerals. Each time, fighting to keep the bugle on my face. Fortunately, relentless preparation kicks and I get through relatively fault-free.

I simply cannot control the flood of adrenaline.

This year, I have been given a very important exposed part and have begged to give it away, knowing how I react. The conductor and section really want me to try it. Of course, I am in the process of relentless preparation. But, the shakes came back, even during rehearsal.

Now the stakes are different. I do feel the pressure to do well for the ensemble; for the hard work that everyone else invests. So, I have finally consulted a physician and have been given a very low does anti-anxiety medication. I was told to try it at rehearsal to see how I would react.

Here is my impression. It did not take performance anxiety away but without the distraction of fighting my body, it allowed me to use positive self-talk and hear the voices of my teachers. The medication allowed me to focus on the music. And, when I made a mistake and had to play again in front of everyone, I was totally in the zone getting better, not worse because I knew that I was the focus of attention. For the first time, I experienced the joy of playing the trumpet in the moment --- versus --- the joy of it being over and having survived.

At this point, I have very mixed feelings because there is truth in all the posts and I do feel some "shame" for doing it. For example, when I attended my uncle's funeral, the U.S. Air Force sent someone to play taps, and later found out it he fingered the trumpet while a recording played. I got pissed. I was told that there is a lot of pressure, and they do not want to ruin it for the family. OK. Well, I was upset because I have been fighting the shakes through these ceremonies, forcing myself to confront the anxiety.

Maybe I am now cheating, too. But, for the last rehearsal, I really enjoyed playing in a way I had not before. I repeat, I did have nerves but I could use the traditional tools to cope, without fighting my body. I imagined that is the way normal players feel.

That is my 2 cents. I do not know if I will continue after this run. Maybe the benefit is to know I can do it, and try to get there without medication. I know my friends feel bad that I "have" to take a medication to do something that I am supposed to enjoy, even love to do. It seems paradoxical to them.

DK
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I learn from my mistakes. I can repeat them perfectly every time.

[gstump]

Fight or Flight? The bronchial tree dilates. Breathing increases and as well as the heart rate. Run like hell or stay and fight the trumpet!

Fight or Flight triggers the Beta 2 receptors. High doses of beta blockers can impact the beta 2 receptors and restrict breathing.

I have no problem with high end performers using beta blockers. I have seen too many big time symphony players rely on alcohol and other forms of self-medication. Years ago this was more prevalent. One of my jobs was to stop them from getting fired and insist on progressive discipline.

But trumpet players should be careful using higher doses of beta-blockers. I was given them for high blood pressure as I got older. But I have asthma and fortunately my new internist realized prescribing a breathing depressant for an asthma patient was stupid!

Cheers,

Gordon Stump
_________________
Schilke B5
Couesnon Flug (1967)
Funk Brothers Horn Section/Caruso Student

[blbaumgarn]

I don't want to insult someone who has taught and mentored many, many world class players. I have been in recovery from alcohol for 33 years, and to my memory I never played on any occasion under the influence. In h.s. I had conversations with teachers about the drug and alcohol histories of many prominent musicians. I always had some anxiety before playing, but that is part of the energy and rush. I do agree with his statement about going out and knowing you have command. If you feel that positive about it, you are ready to play and there is no pill, booze, or drug that can supplant that feeling. This is MHO anyway. I appreciate teachers and performers like Mr. Gould who are matter of fact, too.

[Dark Knight]

I love listening to Mark Gould. But, I also disagree. I think that the shame of taking medication (mine included) also clouds our judgement to facts. For example, it is well known that there are personality traits and characteristics. Some people are hard wired to have more anxiety than others and there are a combination cognitive behaviour techniques and medication depending on the severity. In the best of all worlds your activities align with your personality type. For example, those with a fear of flying do not become pilots. Those, who have a morbid levels of stage freight are not professional musicians "BUT" there have seen some. The love of music can be powerful enough to us draw towards that consequence.

All of my teachers have told me of their performance anxieties and how they evolved. In each case, by constantly playing in front of people since they were kids, they "attenuated" to the stimulus. Two of them played their formative professional years for the circus. And, if that does not toughen you up, nothing will. There is something varying important with that observation. I have been talking in front of hundreds of people, three to four time a week for almost 25 years. Some would find the situation mortifying. I was indeed highly anxious when I first started out. Now, it is like nothing to me, even ad-libing and "hamming it up". But, that took 25 years. Psychologists call the process developing "mastery of experience". I have had the time to do that, in that particular situatiuon.

Musically, I always have my pieces memorized and feel confident. I am told that my Remembrance Day work us better than most, to the degree my teacher would have play with him, while he takes on another instrument. Still, my hands shake to the degree I have trouble keeping the MP on my face. While playing I think only of singing through the horn. If I make a mistake, I have learned that it is OK and keep playing. And, I will still get business cards from the audience to come and play for them. So, they can not tell.

I am 100x better than I used to be and have come along. It is a visceral thing that I actually fight to control and it is exhausting. Two of the teachers said that they have had over 30 years to "get used to it". I have had only five so far. So, perhaps it is a developmental thing. And, in the immortal words of Clark Terry, I will just "keep on keeping on" until it finally is managable. For the short-term, for a specific situation I am experimenting with a low-does anxiety medication, supervised by a physician who is aware of my situation and has knows for almost 20 years

Well'll see.

DK.

[Bachatit]

I would disagree with Mark on several points:

1) A beta blocker does not diminish anxiety per se, it diminishes the physical response to anxiety (shakes, sweating, rapid heart beat)
2) A beta blocker is not a drug in the same sense as alcohol. It is not mind altering and doesn't change perception, nor is it addicting. It is not a benzodiazepine that reduces anxiety (and alters the mental state).

I have used a low dose beta blocker for years as it decreases microtremors in the fingers which is important in my profession as a microsurgeon.

The beta blocker has many positive medicinal effects and has been shown to prolong life for many cardiac patients. There are contraindications that must be ruled out by a physician, however a low dose beta blocker on an occasional basis is benign and can be a career saver for those who need them. Again, must be prescribed by a physician.

I would never disagree with Mark about music or trumpet playing (I would most certainly be wrong!), but I believe he's off here.

[John Mohan]

[John Mohan]

[John Mohan]

Regarding what Dark Knight wrote:

In general I think beta blockers are being over-used. But there are people who do need them and he is clearly one of those people. And there is no more shame to be felt in needing them and taking them as there is for a diabetic needing and taking his or her insulin dose.

Sincerely,

John Mohan
_________________
Trumpet Player, Clinician & Teacher
1st Trpt for Cats, Phantom of the Opera, West Side Story, Evita, Hunchback of Notre Dame,
Grease, The Producers, Addams Family, In the Heights, etc.
Ex LA Studio Musician
16 Year Claude Gordon Student

[Daniel Barenboim]

The only thing more common at a trumpet audition besides beta blockers is Petroushka.



DB

[John Mohan]

[Daniel Barenboim]

[John Mohan]

[Lionel]

[Tpt_Guy]