Very serious nerves problem - I need help!

[mmro]

My problem is very serious. It's not just that I can't play  in public, I can't play in front of absolutely anyone not even my family or my teacher. I'm good!! But it's so frustrating that I can't show that to anyone... I  think my case is extreme, if I'm alone but suddenly I imagine someone could be hearing me I inmidiately  get nervous and play terrible. Even if I know that I'm completely alone but I just imagine in my head that I'm playing for someone I get nervous I start sweating and my hands start shaking.

What can I do? Please help me!!

[Kassaa]

Even if I know that I'm completely alone but I just imagine in my head that I'm playing for someone I get nervous I start sweating and my hands start shaking.

What can I do? Please help me!!

Try it the other way around, imagine when playing in public that you are only playing for yourself?

[dora96]

G'day

I am also facing the same problems, I have some question to professional pianists/ concert pianists. I past my grade 8. I haven't studied for 5 years and I am going to do  dipolma exam next year. How to get good memory? I am trying to play the piano without the music in front of me. All these years I play the piano, the hardest thing is to preform without the music. I always think how embrassing if someone ask me to play the piano, I can't play because I haven't got the music in front of me. Or just play little bit but cannot finish entire music.  I try to play Beethoven sonata pathetic. It is so hard to memorize if I make mistakes I can't continue playing. I can't concentrate on such long sonata specially playing 3 movements. I play in sequence, I can't remember each section if I make mistakes or losing concentration or nerveness. How do concert pianists playing in front of crowd without losing concetration or embrassing themselves by making mistakes. I mean pianist like Vladmir Horowitz, young pianist Donghyek Lim,  Lang Lang how did he remember all the techinical and complicated music, I do understand that is not his first day in the piano, but for such long performance without any material to help him, specially like Horowitz's age, how did he maintence his memory.   I think it is miracle. How ordinary piano players get the opportunity to perform or even practice in the grand piano.  Can you share your experiences? and how to overcome mantle block. Please help me !! I love to hear some of your opinion and your life experience thanks

[shingo]

Hi,
Although I wouldn't class my nerves as quite as extreme as yours, I do experience a similar descending spiral when nervous especially in lessons. Infront of family etc, or at least close family I am fine, extended family I would find hard to play for.
Lessons is the worst though as often having practiced a piece and played it confidently numerous times before hand I will mess things up and end up being set the piece for another week again, which sometimes lasts a lengthy cycle. There are other days however when I have made mistakes in lessons and it has kind of riled me up inside and I will begin to play like I do at home probably because I feel there is nothing else to lose. But yes there is definitely 2 sides to my playing, the confident and more natural way I do on my own/at home (playing music considreably harder) and my lesson playing(stuff I find easy, sometimes challenging). Its a shame as I would like my teacher to see how I really play but everytime I go to do this nerves just make me conform to the old tentative style.
It would sound lame as well to try and explain this to my teacher as well as it sounds like an excuse and maybe hard to understand.

[thalberg]

The only cure for nerves is to play in front of people all the time.  Choose times when you know there's nothing at stake.

I used to play recitals at nursing homes--you'd get an audience of 30 or 40, enough to make you nervous.  But if you make a mistake, who cares, because you're not getting paid and people appreciate your effort and enjoy it anyway. 

You have to get up in front of people frequently.

[teresa_b]

I have fought with this problem for years.  It is good advice to play in front of people as often as you can. 

What helps me: 

KNOW the music inside and out!

Remember, you are playing because you love to make music, and WHY would you choose to turn a potentially wonderful experience into an agonizing one?  (It is only YOU, not your listeners, who cause you to feel bad instead of good!) Remind yourself why you are performing.

Also, remember WHO has put in the immense time and effort to bring beautiful music to the people listening.  It is YOU, you are putting yourself out there.  THEY are not--they just have to sit there and enjoy.  Believe it or not, they admire you!

DO NOT SWEAT a few mistakes!  Most people in the audience do not know the piece anywhere near as well as you.  And what if they do?  In that case they know exactly how difficult it is, and will forgive a bobble or two.  A mistake (or even 5) does NOT make you a BAD pianist!!! 

Have fun!
Teresa

[kelly1995]

I had a similar problem , when I was 8 and first started playing in large recitals. ( 200 hundred people or more. )  My teacher told me that instead of trying to fight that feeling of nervousnes and shaking I needed to give into it. Allow it to overwhelm me. Then gradually take back control. Now before I play before an audience I play a little bit before some friends first.

Dont run away from your fears , embrace them. With me it worked. Talk to some of your family and friends and explain your problem to them. Play for them.  Make the audience part of your team.  Record your practice. This will simulate playing for people. Get used to being recorded. It will help when it comes to playing before people.

Anyway , best of luck - hope you work this out.