How Do You Deal with Performance Anxiety?
🎶 Discussion of the Week: How Do You Deal with Performance Anxiety? 🎶
No matter how experienced we are, performance anxiety is something many musicians and singers face at some point in their journey. Whether it’s pre-show nerves, racing thoughts, or physical tension, the pressure of performing can be overwhelming.
How do you manage performance anxiety?
Do you have rituals or techniques that help you stay calm and focused? Have you discovered mindset shifts or breathing exercises that work for you? Maybe you've found inspiration in a particular practice or piece of advice that changed how you approach performing.
Let’s share strategies and support each other in overcoming stage fright! Drop your thoughts in the comments below. 👇🎼
4 replies
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Funny this topic came up since I’m a few days from my first solo performance. The number one thing I’m doing is to make sure I’m well practiced. I’ve played through my piece sooooo many times already. Another thing I’m doing is focusing on tempo, I have decided to play it at 60 even though I have practiced it at 68. So getting comfortable playing it a bit faster than you plan to perform. That way hopefully the performance feels comfortable. I’m also meditating to keep my brain from getting to crazy. Lastly I’m telling myself to JUST HAVE FUN. Have fun playing and whatever happens happens. I know my fellow musicians in the symphony have my back.
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First, let me recommend a short, but very helpful book by Livingston Taylor, "Stage Performance". It has a lot of helpful suggestions, including some listed by our colleague . Second, and I'm going to botch this quote attributed to Beethoven, but here it is more or less: "To make mistakes is human. To play without passion is unforgiveable." I try to remember that. A few years ago, I realized that I had much less anxiety when performing as I'd mentally trained myself to be self-forgiving in the moment and move on. As with , I do some mindful meditation daily and especially before performance. If you are familiar with this practice, it helps you focus and keep from being distracted so that it's just you, your instrument and the music, with everything else tucked away in the background. I could go on forever (and often do, sorry), but when I play in my orchestra, the stage lights keep me from being able to see the audience, creating the illusion that they aren't actually there. And before a perfomance, don't eat too much, and no carbonated beveerages!