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Detrocious
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Joined: 17 Nov 2009
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Location: Waterford, MI
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 Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2011 6:57 pm Post subject: Performance Anxiety |
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I'm having trouble with performance anxiety. Its really starting to hold me back and I'm not sure how to stop it or even lessen it a little. I can play just fine while in an ensemble, even small chamber groups. Although when it comes so solos or auditions everything seems to falls apart. I shake and get dry mouth, and feel like im sight reading the music. Its really holding me back in auditions for more advanced ensemble at school. I know I can play the music, but I always seem to destroy the excerpts. Even when i've spent hours in the practice room working them out.
If anyone has some good tips to help me out please let me know.
Thanks!
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HornnOOb
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Location: East of the Sun & West of the Moon
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| Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2011 8:40 pm Post subject: Re: Performance Anxiety |
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| Detrocious wrote: | I'm having trouble with performance anxiety. Its really starting to hold me back and I'm not sure how to stop it or even lessen it a little. I can play just fine while in an ensemble, even small chamber groups. Although when it comes so solos or auditions everything seems to falls apart. I shake and get dry mouth, and feel like im sight reading the music. Its really holding me back in auditions for more advanced ensemble at school. I know I can play the music, but I always seem to destroy the excerpts. Even when i've spent hours in the practice room working them out.
If anyone has some good tips to help me out please let me know.
Thanks! |
I have the same issues. I'm certain it's a 'mind over matter' thing. Just relax and tell yourself that nothing matters except tp play for your own enjoyment and personal sense of achievement. You're not playing for "them" or anyone else. You just tell yourself to play the best you can and don't worry about what anyone else might be thinking. It's good to remember that the trumpet is not easy to play well and if just anyone could do it, it wouldn't be worth the effort. Just do your best for you --
and enjoy!
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Roberts-K
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Location: Chattanooga,TN
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| Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2011 8:48 pm Post subject: Performance Anxiety |
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Valium! Seriously, I don't know how I could help anyone with something like this, just from an advice standpoint on an internet chat. In golf they teach you when facing a tough shot to picture in your mind when you made that shot before. To use visualization to see the flight of the ball doing exactly what you want it to do.
But, stage fright for a musician can be very different for different people. I have heard famous musicians say that they still get nervous after years of playing shows for 80,000 plus people, and once they get onstage they feed off of the energy and probably play better.
I get nervous still if I know I am not real comfortable with chord changes on a particular tune, but I don't have to audition or be judged anymore, so I can just play off the melody and get through it.
I would suggest you get Kenny Wheeler's book, "Effortless Mastery" and work on relaxation and getting your mind out of your way, so you can play what you know you can play from what you have practiced. It is sold through Abersold, or Ebay. It is spot on at how we sometimes mentally get in our own way, and stage fright is in your mind or it wouldn't be happening. Give it a try and it may free up more abilities as well. And, good luck! I bet the Valium would work though...after you woke up from your nap!
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crzytptman
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Joined: 03 Sep 2003
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Location: Escondido California
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| Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2011 11:10 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | Just relax and tell yourself that nothing matters except tp play for your own enjoyment and personal sense of achievement. You're not playing for "them" or anyone else. |
I disagree. The reason musicians play music is to communicate with sound vibrations. What you should think about is communicating something from your soul to other souls. Even written music. Don't think about being judged.
| Quote: | | I would suggest you get Kenny Wheeler's book, "Effortless Mastery"
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That is a great book, and appropriate to the topic, however it's by Kenny Werner . . .
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HornnOOb
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| Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2011 11:16 pm Post subject: |
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| crzytptman wrote: | | Quote: | | Just relax and tell yourself that nothing matters except tp play for your own enjoyment and personal sense of achievement. You're not playing for "them" or anyone else. |
I disagree. The reason musicians play music is to communicate with sound vibrations. What you should think about is communicating something from your soul to other souls. Even written music. Don't think about being judged.
| Quote: | | I would suggest you get Kenny Wheeler's book, "Effortless Mastery"
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That is a great book, and appropriate to the topic, however it's by Kenny Werner . . . |
My point is that it might work to put yourself in a mental state that you're playing for yourself -- not "Them". But of course, we are actually playing for people - I was simply referring to a state of mind that might help with stage fright issue -- not the reality of it.
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I rode in on a horse and can't seem to get out of L.A.
Severinsen Destino 3*
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1984 Getzen Eterna 896 Flugelhorn
1951 Olds Special Cornet
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jhatpro
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| Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2011 1:16 am Post subject: |
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At a master class last year, CSO principal Chris Martin said he handles performance anxiety by pretending he's someone else. He didn't say who. Phil Smith, maybe?
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jscahoy
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| Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2011 3:11 am Post subject: |
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| jhatpro wrote: | | At a master class last year, CSO principal Chris Martin said he handles performance anxiety by pretending he's someone else. |
As one-sentence tips go, that one is pretty good. Certainly better than any I got in school when having this problem.
To the OP, there are many threads on this topic. Ultimately you need to play in those situations more often, to desensitize yourself. Or take drugs, which I don't recommend. |
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plunkett
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| Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2011 4:17 am Post subject: |
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I don't think we're supposed to give medical advice on this board (or that could be one of my others!), but here goes...
I use Propranolol, which is a beta blocker. One pill about an hour before performance works incredibly well for me. I have tried the relaxation techniques, lots of practice, and even alcohol (that was for a wedding - suffice to say that was NOT a good idea!). I've even gone to workshops that were supposed to teach you how to "center", etc. None of that worked - or at least didn't work predictably. Sometimes the shakes would start and sometimes not - I could never tell. No amount of preparation or "out of body" meditation or anything else helped until I talked to a fellow musician (trombone player, but OK even so!) and he told me about the little orange pill.
What happens now is that I can feel the shakes trying to start sometimes but they are stopped in their tracks - kinda cool! In fact, I'll be taking one in about an hour for my weekly church choir "gig".
Good luck in your search!
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TrumpetMD
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| Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2011 4:58 am Post subject: |
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| jscahoy wrote: | | Ultimately you need to play in those situations more often, to desensitize yourself. |
For most people, this is the way to do it.
The OP said that ensemble playing is okay, but solos and auditions are a problem. So it might help to put yourself in solo/audition situations. Do this as much as possible, even daily if you can. Play for your roommates, classmates, family, friends, strangers ... anyone you can ... anywhere you can. Set up mock auditions or just play solos for anyone that will listen.
Plunkett is correct, that propranolol is sometimes prescribed for performance anxiety. It's not for everyone. But if desensitization doesn't work, it might be worth considering.
Mike
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shofarguy
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| Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2011 5:39 am Post subject: |
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Grow old. Then you just won't care anymore! 
Experience is the best way to get through these things. But, it has to be experience where you believe you overcame. So, when you struggle, tell yourself that you were there in the fight when most people were sitting in front of their TVs. You survived. You grew stronger. Get better in the unseen and, eventually, you will get better in the seen.
Brian
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acuity33
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Joined: 02 Sep 2011
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| Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2011 7:56 am Post subject: |
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I've just started having some lessons after years without.
On my first lesson I was incredibly nervous playing in front of the teacher. Much more nervous than I get playing in church or at a concert. It's got a bit better but I'm still rubbish at lessons compared to when I play in other situations.
Jon |
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Billy B
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| Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2011 8:25 am Post subject: |
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Perfromance anxiety is a manifestation of the ego.
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cjl
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| Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2011 8:25 am Post subject: |
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| shofarguy wrote: | | Grow old. Then you just won't care anymore!
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I know that you're kidding but this is not true. I have found that it bugs me more now that I'm older, perhaps because I care more about my presentation to the audience more than I did during my younger days.. Too, I have a few more crashes under my belt that I simply cannot forgot. They all come back to haunt me at the worst possible time.
Ah to be young and carefree once again ...
-- Joe |
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David Roberts
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| Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2011 8:35 am Post subject: |
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| shofarguy wrote: |
Experience is the best way to get through these things. But, it has to be experience where you believe you overcame. So, when you struggle, tell yourself that you were there in the fight when most people were sitting in front of their TVs. You survived. You grew stronger. Get better in the unseen and, eventually, you will get better in the seen.
Brian |
Like!
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garrett901
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| Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2011 9:03 am Post subject: |
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Preparation, Preparation, Preparation
Being nervous is normal. Find a quiet place and mentally visualize yourself performing. Wowing the crowd.
Get together with your group and do a singing run thru of the performance.
Focus on the music and above all: Preparation, Preparation, Preparation
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plunkett
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| Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2011 9:16 am Post subject: |
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| garrett901 wrote: | Preparation, Preparation, Preparation
Being nervous is normal. Find a quiet place and mentally visualize yourself performing. Wowing the crowd.
Get together with your group and do a singing run thru of the performance.
Focus on the music and above all: Preparation, Preparation, Preparation |
No offense (I mean that!), but people that write stuff like this really don't know what it's like to have unpredictable and uncontrollable performance anxiety. Preparation, visualization, practice, deep breathing, yoga - they're all well and good, but may not work for everyone (sure doesn't for me!).
Also, I forgot to mention in my earlier post that I never have this problem in a section or with a large group - only when solo or I'm the only instrument of my type in a small group (I also play flute).
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Last edited by plunkett on Sun Sep 11, 2011 9:20 am; edited 1 time in total |
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jscahoy
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| Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2011 9:19 am Post subject: |
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| cjl wrote: | | shofarguy wrote: | | Grow old. Then you just won't care anymore!
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I know that you're kidding but this is not true. I have found that it bugs me more now that I'm older, perhaps because I care more about my presentation to the audience more than I did during my younger days.. |
True, age by itself doesn't cure it. You literally have to not care so much. Performance anxiety is a disproportionate terror reaction. The trick is to convince those stupid adrenal glands that clamming a note won't actually kill you. |
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Billy B
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| Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2011 12:57 pm Post subject: |
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| plunkett wrote: | | garrett901 wrote: | Preparation, Preparation, Preparation
Being nervous is normal. Find a quiet place and mentally visualize yourself performing. Wowing the crowd.
Get together with your group and do a singing run thru of the performance.
Focus on the music and above all: Preparation, Preparation, Preparation |
No offense (I mean that!), but people that write stuff like this really don't know what it's like to have unpredictable and uncontrollable performance anxiety. Preparation, visualization, practice, deep breathing, yoga - they're all well and good, but may not work for everyone (sure doesn't for me!).
Also, I forgot to mention in my earlier post that I never have this problem in a section or with a large group - only when solo or I'm the only instrument of my type in a small group (I also play flute). |
This is very true. The root of the problem is our own self image.
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James B. Quick
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| Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2011 1:45 pm Post subject: |
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When you find yourself in a stressful performance situation you can employ this technique: Clear all unnecessary thoughts from your mind, and concentrate on nothing but your breathing. Let the thoughts about your breathing become the foremost thing in you mind and forget about your surroundings and the audience. Take a deep breath and begin playing. Think only of the music you are playing and the proper breathing to support it. The only thoughts that need to be in your consciousness are the music and your next breath.
jbq |
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Detrocious
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Location: Waterford, MI
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| Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2011 2:09 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for the tips! Just a few things though. As for the preparation, I was able to play all the way through each excerpt to the best of my ability multiple times a day the week before hand, but when the time came to play everything fell apart. Also I agree that playing for others aften can help. I do regularly in the studio, although It doesn't seem to work for me. Recently I tried to control my breathing in an audition, its was difficult though. It seemed like it gave me more think about and added to the weight.
I know it seems like i'm just a mess, but I do appreciate the advice, and have been enjoying the discussions.
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