How do you get over being nervous when playing in public? I think it must be something you’re born with, or you’re not. I have no problem with drama and being on stage, but when it comes to playing an instrument, I’m all thumbs sometimes. I get the nerves for no reason. I played clarinet from 5th grade until freshman year college, and every time I was in an enesmble or had to play a solo, I’d get all tied up inside. And I was pretty good, I made All-State type bands every year. Don’t know how I made it through the auditions, though.
I’ve been asked to play my whistle in church (with a fiddle and piano, I think), and I’m going to do it, but already I’m all nervous. It’s not until Feb 22, and I probably won’t get the music until the practice on the 19th.
I don’t live near any sessions (that I’ve been able to find, anyway) so playing with others for fun is out.
I’m the same. As soon as someone starts paying attention to me I screw up majorly. But I also know that given opportunities to get over it I do…just takes some exposure to the situation. Not sure what to prescribe if exposure isn’t available. My aunt, the piano teacher, advocates jumping jacks, or some other strenuous exercise to burn off the nervous energy pre-performance.
SwtCaro, do record youself at all? If not, you might be surprised at how adequate -or better- your playing is. A little objectively gotten self-confidence might help quite a bit. I think my playing sucks, but every now and then I’ll record myself to critique the playing, and, although it ain’t star matter, it ain’t so bad.
Wait! I saw this on a Brady Bunch episode - you just imagine you’re on stage in your underwear and everybody’s looking at you - no, scratch that.
Seriously, I read where licking your lips has a calming influence based on the suckling reflex and it does seem to work for me. I also try yawning a couple of times and that seems to help.
Being nervous before any sort of public performance is very normal, in fact a lot of proffessionals (actors, musicians, public speakers etc) welcome it because they know that it actually helps to focus the performance. The adrelian that floods the body just prior to the event helps concentration and delivery.
If one is not nervous, then the performance can become unfocussed. Many actors talk about totally losing their place in a long-running play because they have become ‘dulled’ by the routine.
One thing that helped me to keep the nerves under control - I used to do a bit of lecturing - is to concentrate on how good I know that I will feel once it is all over!!
This last is great advice. Sometimes
the body/mind goes through various contortions
getting revved up to do a good job;
unpleasant, but it does work.
Also good, as mentioned, to promise
yourself a treat once it’s over.
Examine what internal messages you are giving yourself. Separate the true situation from the exaggerated consequences that are frightening you.
For example, the true situation might be that you will either play well or make mistakes that will be obvious to everyone (or even ruin the performance). Stage fright comes from the next step, thinking about what will happen if you play badly.
What exaggerated consequences could happen?
No one will ever want to hear you again.
People will make fun of you for ever.
People will think that you didn’t prepare and don’t care about about them or the performance.
What is really likely to happen is that either you play well or you don’t and the audience is likely to be either appreciative or sympathetic. This might not be true for professional performances, but should hold for all others.
There is always someone better or worse than you are, since there is only 1 person at each end of the spectrum. For a non-professional performance, the audience appreciates the effort and forgives the mistakes.
Be proud of your mistakes, just call them variations.
Angelo
If you would like to get experience playing for an audience, I recommend performing at a nursing home. The patients make a very forgiving audience. They don’t care if you make some mistakes; all they want is to have a little fun.
You do have to learn to ignore certain distractions, for example, a patient’s alarm going off.
I started playing at a local nursing home five (or more?) years ago. I enjoy it very much. I have even played for the dementia patients. (My mother & mother-in-law suffered from dementia, so playing for these patients has a special meaning for me.) I find this a really low-stress gig. Some of the dementia patients sing along. Some even request songs. Others are in their own little worlds and don’t seem to notice me. But I think that many of the ones who don’t seem to be responding may be enjoying the music at some basic level.
Another low-stress gig is playing for preschool or primary grade kids.
My favorite is “A Soprano on Her Head,” by the late Eloise Ristad. There’s a fair bit of New Age mumbo-jumbo to wade through, but lots of good, solid advice as well. Worth reading.
As a public school beginning teacher I got brain cramps the first few minutes of every period - 5 periods (shows) a day, 5 days a week with a not always eager “audience”. As time went on I got into public speaking and lecturing.
I recall reading an article in NY Times about Bob Hope. The reporter asked Mr. Hope what was the hardest word he ever had to say and, after a brief pause, he responed, “The first one – every time!”
So, after reading that I found it to be spot on. After the first word, first note, gesture, whatever, the rest have seemed to fall into place.
My first public performance was about two years ago. I remember being extremely nervous leading up to that day. Some things that I did include:
In the days leading up to the event, lots of practice, both with the instrument, and mental walkthroughs without the instrument. I did a little verbal intro for each song, and I rehearsed this part also.
On the day of the event, no more practice. Instead, I tire myself out with lots of exercise (evening performance) to burn up any nervous energy.
Just before my time, I do a quick mental rehearsal, and play just the first few notes. For the rest, the music will tell you what to do.
At this point, I feel like an old pro. The nervousness is more like excitement. Once in a while I have gotten flustered, usually if there is a distraction in the audience such as someone coming in late or someone talking loud enough for me to hear. However, I realize mistakes are average, that even the most seasoned professionals make mistakes from time to time. There is no danger involved, if I make a mistake, I keep going.
I think part of my problem is that I’m not entirely comfortable with any of my whistles. They’re mostly low-end ones that have mouthpiece problems. I’ve been playing my Dixon D the most, but it’s so quiet, I know it’ll have to be mic’ed for the performance, and if I squeak . . . yikes! I tried calling Mike Burke to see if he has any Pro Session Ds in stock, but I’m not counting on getting a call back soon enough for this particular performance. I knew I should have just bitten the bullet and bought one after Christmas. Oh well. So, back to the practice board.
Nano–thanks for the recording suggestion. Did that all the time on clarinet but hadn’t thought to with whistle. If I could just quit blowing through the notes (the Dixon doesn’t seem to take as much air as I want to give it) I sound pretty ok.
See an MD about Propananol, and anti-stagefright medication.
As for sessions, start your own! Get sheetmusic (perferably with chords) for the tunes you play. Then find another musician who has some interest (that’s the hard part). Pubs, book stores, Starbucks etc often don’t mind letting people play as long as money is not involved.
I’ll add two things. First, repeatedly tell yourself the truth: you are the best whistle player in the building. Oh, it’s bragging alright, but it’s OK if you only say it internally. Second, I recommend you pop into the church one or two times when nobody is in the sanctuary. Get up on stage and let your whistle fly. When I started I found that when I’m there all by myself, it becomes MY comfortable whistling place. A few days later, sure, add a room full of people, it’s still my place.
As for whistles, get to know one or two of them really well and the maker will become irrelevant. My performance whistles are a tweaked Clarke D, a Dixon Bb, and Susatos in A,C,and Eb. They sound great after being broken in! Of course it’s me that’s being broken in…
Maybe it’s a male gene thing, but I have absolutely no problem doing a whole lot of internal bragging, and the result is that I’m now very comfortable on stage. You’ve got lots of good advice here. Be sure to let us know about it when it’s done!
SwtCaro, I know what youre talking about. If you freeze up just try to play through it. Make up a few notes till you get back on track. Most of the audience won’t notice at all. I’ve done that while singing in public. Switched verses around or made up a few words etc. Very embarassing, but like I said most people didn’t really notice.
Oh, it’s bragging alright, but it’s OK if you only say it internally. Second, I recommend you pop into the church one or two times when nobody is in the sanctuary. Get up on stage and let your whistle fly. When I started I found that when I’m there all by myself, it becomes MY comfortable whistling place. A few days later, sure, add a room full of people, it’s still my place.