Practicing more securely!

[Pno-rules]

Anyone can suggest how to practice more securely? Especially when it come to performance. What is a good practicing regimen in order to get a repretoire in perfect condition and play it and enjoy it rather than being too overcautious of hitting a wrong note or trying to worry about what the outcome is?Highly appreciate.
MG

[schnabels_grandson]

I suggest practicing a lot and practicing very slowly.  When you play slowly, you are less like to hit wrong notes, thus giving your brain an accurate idea of what you're doing.  Don't ever perform pieces you are not 100% comfortable with, as this will likely lead to mess-ups and turn you off to performing.  If you can't stand taking certain pieces slow all the time, just do them slowly at least once a day.  You might be surprised at how much practicing this way improves your confidence and ability to play the piece smoothly.  

[leemay001]

Also there's a topic in here somewhere about what to eat before a performance. Certain things, I think banana's are one, help you relax while playing. Or something like that...
  ~Lee~

[BoliverAllmon]

another thing to do is to play it in front of people alot. When it comes down to performance, have your friends listen to you play it. You can even get strangers to listen to it. Once, you actually perform it, you will have already have several mini performances.

boliver

[Rach3]

Just practice intelligently, not sadomasochistically (sp?). Practice the fast things slowly, not painfully slowly but comfortably so that they become secure. If you always practice the hard things at Argerich tempo than you will become insecure about them, and nervous. It also helps to vary rhythms to get coordination more precicse.

I think a key component to security with repertoire is memorization. As a famous organist explained to me, there are three types of memorization, physical, mental, and aural. What it essentially comes down to is that you have to KNOW which notes follow which in the music, not just in your fingers. When you are nervous you think rapidly, and the first thing your brain thinks about is "what comes next?" and if you can't answer that question mentally, your fingers are going to panic. So study the score, and break it up into manageable subsections for reference. Even better, play it backwards, start with a final section, then play the section before it, and so on, it works wonders for memorization.

[Rach3]

I'm not sure about bananas, I've been trying that regime recently and it makes you more alert but a lot more nervous, it's even worse than sugar. I have a friend, a hornist (is that the word?), who consumed approximately thirty in one sitting before a concert, and concluded that excessive potassium has a strong soporific effect.

For those of you who are wondering why I sometimes have two posts one after another, when I think of something after a post I make a new post for it rather than modify because I am trying to increase my post count so I can (hopefully) catch up to Ed sooner or later.

[leemay001]

For those of you who are wondering why I sometimes have two posts one after another, when I think of something after a post I make a new post for it rather than modify because I am trying to increase my post count so I can (hopefully) catch up to Ed sooner or later.

Heh, good luck  
  ~Lee~

[eddie92099]

I am trying to increase my post count so I can (hopefully) catch up to Ed sooner or later.

You've a long way to go yet  ,
Ed

[eddie92099]

You've a long way to go yet  ,
Ed

Quite!  ,
Ed

[cziffra]

Rather!

[eddie92099]

Bergh. (Don't ask...),
Ed

[leemay001]

Hahahahaha. Weeeeeeeeeee!!!
  ~Lee~

[L.K.]

And don't forget memorization HS! I think it won't do any bad for you if you memorize the left hand first and the the right hand.