Not to perform well while someone listening!!:(

[penelope]

 Hi,
 I discovered this forum last week, and I enjoyed.  
 My problem is such that, I couldn't concentrate well while someone listening me even if teacher:(
 I perform more more better when I'm alone.
 What are your advices? I will not play only to me all my life..
 Thanks,

[leemay001]

I have the same problem. I guess the only real answer I can think of is to practice with someone listening. And practice a lot. It's usually just nerves, try some kind of simple meditation or breathing excersices to relax yourself before playing. Also, clear your mind of everything around you. In your mind, all that should be in the room with you, is the instrument and yourself.
~Lee~

[Clare]

I have the same problem too - very nervous playing in front of a teacher. But for some reason I don't get as nervous playing in an exam or audition (except for beforehand), because I think, "Oh, well - I don't know this examiner personally and this is the only time I'll see them, so I'm just going to go for it."
I wish I could be the same way playing in front of people I know.

[dj]

yeah i've kinda got that prob 2, but i've heard it goes away the more you play in front of people....also, i've found that if i can get through the first couple minutes of a piece without blankin out, i can get absorbed into the music and forget about the people listening; however, any sign of messing up and everything comes rushing back. in moments like those.....well sorry i don't have any advice   in fact get back to me if you hit on anything

[faulty_damper]

Same here:

When I play in front of my teacher, I know she's judging me.

 Same with my older sister who walks by sometimes while I'm practicing.  My sister likes to criticize in the negative way - a lot - until I told her off one day.  Now she doesn't criticize at all but I can tell by her body language as she walks by and by her eyes.  She's not very encouraging at all and I don't feel comfortable when she's around.  But it has gotten better, if only a little.  Why?  I don't know why.  Less criticism could be one reason.  Or that I'm more confident with how I'm practicing and playing.

Back to my teacher:
I don't do anything the same in front of my teacher than when I'm at home.  At home I screw around a lot: randomly play whatever I feel like, practice whatever I feel like, practice the way I feel like, and most importantly I try to learn the piano, as in improvising, playing "stuff" that just seems to fit my hands, basically stuff that my teacher hasn't assigned me.

I do practice what she assigned (scales, arpeggios, pieces, etc.) but when I do practice them, they are so sporadic (practice it here, then practice it some more but later) and compared to what I was screwing around, it sounds so out of the ordinary.  I get myself into everything and when it comes down to what she assigned, it is so strange.

Here's an example of what I'm comfortable doing:
Arpeggio's are assigned.
I practice it but like to play chord progressions as I play the arpeggios and also add some damper into it and maybe some sostenuto and soft pedal.

What I'm not comfortable doing:
Sitting at the bench and playing arpeggios with both hands simultaneously.  I can do it but it is out of the ordinary of my practice style.  I also can't get into it as with the way I'm comfortable practicing and it sounds so boring and dull...

After such practicing when at the lesson in front of teacher:
I play the arpeggio's the way I'm not comfortable practicing.  I think it sounds horrible and I can't get it up to speed the way I want.

---

I know that this is one of my problems with HOW I PRACTICE and how I show it to my teacher.  This is one reason I'm uncomfortable playing in front of my teacher.  And also, my teacher tells me to play a certain piece one way - her way - and I don't agree with it so I practice it the way I think it should be played and on the off chance I feel like it, I practice it the way she asked me to play it.  So here I am playing the same piece two different ways: one way I practice all the time, the other on the occasions I feel like practicing it.  So I go to show her what I've practiced and I'm not comfortable playing it the way she asked me to play it.  And I wouldn't want to show her the way I like to play it... :-/  Fear of being told I didn't practice what she asked me.

... But sometimes, the piece just carries itself and I forget she's there and bingo!  (G14!) I relax completely and I feel great, I feel confident.  I don't fear her remarks.


At home, I'm comfortable because I'm not playing for anyone else buy myself.  This is where we relate, right?

BUT! If I pretend that people are watching me, I get nervous: my heart rate increases, I sweat more, I get jittery, and when I pretend to play a piece before an audience, I screw up by hitting wrong notes, missing the notes completely...

I screw up so much if I pretend that I try not to pretend too much.  But I'm started to pretend a bit more and it seems to "cure" that nervousness just a little bit.  Just a little.  But I haven't pretended for very long.  I'm sure I'll be pretending a lot more just so I'll be comfortable.  Any little bit helps, right?

---

Other advice from others:
Purposely get someone listen to you play.  I've never tried this but I'm sure it helps lots.  I have sporadically played in front of people but they were not anticipating me playing so it was much easier to play and not get nervous.

I guess I'm like Chopin.  Some people love the attention like Liszt.  But I'm like Chopin: insecure with my playing so I can't play in public because of the piercing eyes of criticism.

[Hazim]

Purposely get someone listen to you play.  I've never tried this but I'm sure it helps lots.  I have sporadically played in front of people but they were not anticipating me playing so it was much easier to play and not get nervous.

This is very funny, as it also happened to me, people were talking in the background and did not pay attention to my music. I was so relaxed, playing and really enjoying . But then, suddenly, they all went deaf silent - starting to listen to me. I got so scared, my heart beat jumped, my hands started to shake, I was terrified...   I hardly managed to finish the melody. They were impressed, but I felt as if I was one step from grave...

/Hazim.

[xvimbi]

Talk about stage fright... I already tense up when I record a piece on my digital piano or my computer. Nobody's around, but I have the feeling I am playing for someone when I record. However, I must say, that it has gotten better over time.

Contrary to an earlier poster who recommended to play as if only you yourself and the instrument were in the room, many people prefer to always imagine there was a master, or the composer him/herself, or a big crowd present. Whatever works.

[newsgroupeuan]

 Hi,
 I discovered this forum last week, and I enjoyed.  
 My problem is such that, I couldn't concentrate well while someone listening me even if teacher:(
 I perform more more better when I'm alone.
 What are your advices? I will not play only to me all my life..
 Thanks,

I have this problem also.

Play your pieces in front of everybody - friends parents etc.  helps

record yourself also.

[Hmoll]

I have this problem also.

Play your pieces in front of everybody - friends parents etc.  helps

record yourself also.

Excellent advice. Listen to it.
Practice makes perfect, and the more you play in front of others, the more you will put them out of your mind.

[greyrune]

Yeah, thats so true.  Practice makes perfect even in this case.  I used to mess up terribly playing in front of an audience, i've never done it with piano but with drums i have, now i jsut relax and and everything tends to go fine.  Also i used to mess up around my teacher but now i've relaxed around him.  Remember if you have an off day he's not going to kill you so long as you're back to normal the next time.  The trick i think is just not to worry about anyone else, if you mess up it happens if you worry incessantly about how you're sounding you'll probably sound worse than if you just try and have fun.  And being on stage is amazing fun, performing is one the highlights of music, at least in my experience.

[steveolongfingers]

I wont let anyone listen to me praticing litz, I cant stand it because sometimes people gasp! Its really annoying lol!  Same with Shubert Impromtu in F minor i play, i sometimes go to church and play for the old ladies, they make all these wierd noises when i play, so i dont like to play infront of people, just cause they are annoying.

[Shagdac]

Penelope..........I think many share your feelings. No matter the experience, no matter the age. However, it does become easier, and one more relaxed with additional experience playing in from of others. I had to laugh when I read what Xvimbi wrote, about getting nervous even when recording, ME TOO! Even if there is no one else around and I know I can start as many times as I want. Usually when I have been working on a piece, I'll even call my Mother, or a friend at work and have them listen over the phone, just to get feedback. Also, If I am playing in front of someone who I know doesn't play the piano, I'm not nervouse at all, but if I know they can play, yes, I tend to be more nervous.  I think we all want acceptance and want to perform well in front of others. And our desire to do well, makes us nervous and terrified of "goofing up". I find that the 3 greatest helps in this area are:

1. Play for as many people as you can whenever you can.

2.  Do record yourself.

3.  Remember WHY you are playing. Not to impress or show off, but for your love of music and playing the piano. Sometimes being so nervouse takes the enjoyment out of it, and isn't that why we play in the first place, simply our pure passion for playing.  Remember that NO one is perfect, everyone makes mistakes, and no matter how well someone plays a piece, they will never play it perfectly EVERY time. If they say they do, they are lying. Give yourself credit for what you can do, far more than many, enjoy and have fun.....
a few mistakes....big deal, ENJOY!

Shag

[penelope]

  Hi Friends,
  Very very thanks for your advices:) I saw that I am not alone with that kind of problem:s
  In the last lesson on Friday, I prepared my mind like that, I'll made mistake, I will not play perfect...  But, I played good, the lesson was fine:) Because, I didn't concentrate on mistakes and I tried to be relaxed.  
  Now, I must find someone to listen to me:)

  Penelope