Playing in front of an audience

[ada]

How important is actually playing in front of an audience? (I'm not talking concert hall here, I mean anyone, even informally). I tend to play with headphones on all the time (I have a digital), partly because I practise early in the morning and late at night but also because I don't think I'm quite ready to inflict my playing on anyone just yet, and I keep thinking I'll get really good and then surprise everyone.  The upshot of course is that I do very little playing in front of people. Is it bad to play with headphones all the time? Not that I'm about to be a concert pianist but does playing in front of an audience improve your playing, as distinct from your ability to perform?

Cheers
ada

[Rach3]

Yes! You're not secure in your interpretation of a piece until you can communicate it to an audience. I suggest drinking lots of coffee, preferrably espresso since it has less water. Most importantly, enjoy yourself (or else!). 

I don't think I'm quite ready to inflict my playing on anyone just yet,

Well, infict them and see what they think. You'll get some extremely useful feedback, no matter what level you're on; plus it's loads of fun and you'll feel great. And if you mess up horribly, do so with confidence and bravura - it's so much fun I sometimes intentionally mess up just for the opportunity to look cool. Ever hear a live Vladimir Horowitz recording?

-some friendly mostly-harmless advice from:
Rach3

[happyface94]

I am much better if I dont perform for an audience, I think everyone is a bit like that.

[mound]

Hands down, without any doubt in my mind, performing for people, formally or informally, is a huge opportunity for growth.  You will learn alot about yourself by doing so. Put down the headphones and start sharing what you put so much work into. You will struggle, get sweaty hands and tremble, and make flubs, but that's all part of the learning experience.  Plus, the feeling you get after you've put yourself through that nervous hell and come out the other side feeling good about your performance, is a feeling like none other.

[kelly_kelly]

I also feel that I play much better when I am not performing. But despite that, it is a crucial part of a musician's experience to communicate music to others. After all, music never quite sounds the same when one is performing as when one is in an audience.  And what's the point of playing music if others can't enjoy it?

[nightmarecinema]

I would say that it is possibly the most important thing to do, period. Of course you may play for the singular reason of pleasing yourself, but music, to me anyway, is about playing something that will move someone else. In other words, I don't see much point in playing if no one else is going to hear you play. Short answer, yes.