performing - what about my face?

[andhow04]

hi guys! every tie i have to perform i get really self concious about my FACE! i start thinking like evvery body is looking at it, and then i feel like i have to make expressions that just end up loking dorky.  how can i overcome this?!?!

[bench warmer]

You could wear a mask! 

....Or quit worrying about it and concentrate on making music. Anyway you probably won't come close to L-Langs contortions.

[practicingnow]

If you don't make ANY faces at all, that is absolutely fine - Vladimir Horowitz and Sergei Rachmaninoff were physically emotionless at the piano.
On the other hand, even if you go to extremes, ala Lang Lang and Andre Watts, that's still fine, just make sure you play well either way (and they all do!).

[pianistimo]

try to keep ur mouth shut.  when i play difficult passages now i always think of my step-dad's comments (everytime i practiced at home) - 'shut your mouth or u'll catch flies.'  he never said anything about my playing - but always said this when he walked by.

[netzow]

I once performed biting my lip the entire piece. Needless to say my mom commented later and that habit was put to a stop. But yes close your mouth and if you need to try clenching your teeth this helped me, if you are clenching your teeth you can't open your mouth.

[bella musica]

I wouldn't advise clenching your teeth to keep your mouth shut while performing, because it can lead to tension in the jaw and neck. 

As to being worried about your face, I find that usually when I go to a concert, I pay attention to a pianists hands more than anything else (I hope I don't make you go and get self-conscious about that now!) so I wouldn't worry about your face too much.  I find extreme facial expressions more annoying than interesting.

But if you're still really worried about it, you could just grow your hair really long and let it hang over your face the whole time...