Need some advice

[jmao]

I have a really big problem... I get too nervous on stage!! When I'm in front of the piano I start sweating and my hands shake a lot. I hit wrong keys all the time I'm out of tempo, usually play too soft because even if I want it my hands refuse to hit the keys with strength. Needless to say I enterely screw it up. That's sad becuase I play really well when I'm alone. And don't think I'm new, I've been playing for at least 7 years. This started happening about 3 years ago. I can't control it... I really want to be a pianist but if this continues I don't know what I'm gonna do And it's not only on stage... even when we have a guest in our home, just one single person, and they ask me to play I screw it up.

So pleeeease, if anyone can help me solve this problem I'd really appreciate it. I won't give up!! 

[leucippus]

That's never an easy problem to deal with.  But ultimately it come down to your vantage point that you CAN change if you really want to.

First off, the real key is to focus on the music rather than the fact that you are performing it.  Think of it more like you are sharing the music with people, and your real focus should be on the music not on your surroundings.   Take your internal spotlight off yourself and put it onto the music where it belongs.  If you focus intently on the music the audience should fade away from your mind.

That's often easier said than done.

Here are some things that you can do that might help.

One thing I do is to imagine that I am playing back-up for a famous singer.  I always imagine that I'm the pianist for Barbara Streisand in concert.   I have to play the piece perfectly so as not to let her down.  The real spotlight is on her.   I'm just background music.  By thinking in this way I am imagining that someone else is actually in the spotlight while I'm playing.

Another trick is to go out and do this for real.  Find yourself some situations were you can play the piano as part of a duet (maybe as back up for a violin, vocalist or other instrument), where you are taking a back seat so-to-speak.  Now your responsibility lies in playing good music for your stage partner.  Thus your focus is no longer on the audience but rather on your goal of making good music for your stage partner.  This tends to remove the focus from you and put more focus on your "responsibility" to get the job done so-to-speak.

Just try to get lost in the music, and don't think about whose playing it or whose judging the performance.  Focus on making the music.  Get "into" it.

Some performers take quite a bit of time to do this.  This is why they will often sit there for a moment or two in silence before they begin to play.  They are converting themselves into the mode of becoming "part" of the music.  That's where you need to be anyway if you are going to perform really well.  Lose yourself in the music in a totally non-judgmental way.  If you do trip up just completely ignore it and let it fade into the past as you continue to play.  Don't let anything bring you out of the music until the piece is over.  Just stay in the piece.  No judgements.  Just flow with it until you read the end.

[jmao]

Hey, thanks a lot for taking time to write that. I really enjoyed reading it 

I'm going to start performing for people whenever I have the chance while keeping in mind what you just told me... I think I'll solve the problem with time...

Thanks again!

[jpianoflorida]

A lot more people are exactly as you are than you think! I am a piano teacher and many of my students go thru the same feelings! just play for people anywhere and everywhere you can...do you ever play at nursing homes? it's a great audience that isn't concerned with your mistakes..they just enjoy having someone come there.   I do 2 nursing home ministries and you can pretty much just "wing it" and have a good time while playing there.   You never know when nerves will hit, so just keep on "keeping on" and it will get better--I promise!