Where can you get causal or non frightening performance?

[dora96]

Hi everyone,

I am piano student in middle age group.  I love music very much, and like to be piano performer one day. I am in diploma level, I believe that I can play quite well and I work very hard and practice a lot. I even make myself to play in front of people. Because I want to train myself to perform and conquer nervousness.  Whenever, I have an opportunity I play the piano in front of a group of friends, other students. family and neighbour. However, the audience simply not very interested, at first, they see and hear me, they are pleased and comment that how good I am. I want to play a few of my repertoires without someone talking or walking around. I find it is hard to express and distracting and I lose interest playing the music. I love share my music and passion with the music lover. It seems like no one has any time for anything.

Last week, my best friend said " bring your keyboard, play some classical music during Valentine Day" . So I did. After, I played few music, in middle of my performance, the other friends said stop playing now, let have dinner. I felt cold. Sometimes, I question that classical music is not always welcoming and  basically ordinary people don't understand or find unattractive. I just wonder. I can play more modern music, but I want to practice my repertoires in the public. I know lots of people in the forum have suggested in the past, I can go to local university, church, local council to enter music competition. advance pianist performance in the club.  However, I need to get more practices in low level non threatening environment. And then I can build up to more formal and professional style. I just don't know where can I play my music in causal gathering for 30 minutes or more.

I just don't know how other pianists get their performance practice. I think they have to start somewhere. I am not in music school, or conservatory   or belong to any kind of music club, organization . At the moment,  I don't want to play or compete in front of other pianist. I like to share my music with other, without build up any stress, or anxiety. I have recorded my music in the youtube or audition room, but it is totally different from live performance and able to play the piano in relaxing and joyful way in the public.   Where can I go?

[gyzzzmo]

You could go look for a restaurant or Grand cafe with a good piano. Start playing light classical music like chopin nocturnes, Debussy and Schubert. That usually helps

good luck,

gyzzzmo

[rc]

I know what you mean about people not paying attention.  I think every pianist does.  But we can't control peoples responses, but I believe that a good performance can better snag a persons ear, so I just try to play the best I can and hopefully somebody enjoys it.

I think there are extramusical things we can do to help focus the audience.  Not playing until everybody is quiet helps, it sort of forces them to pay attention, or at least stay quiet.  That also implies that you're making an event of it, somewhat formal.  The idea is to make it akward to interrupt.

Also I believe engaging the audience by talking to them about the music helps.  Introducing the music, telling some background of it and maybe even making it a bit educational by explaining a bit about the music...  The purpose is to help them understand the music and focus them before playing.  I consider these sorts of things an integral part of performing to be developed.

I would suggest that avoiding playing in front of other pianists, and avoiding stressful performances is really limiting yourself.  It might be better to accept stress and anxiety and just do it anyways.  I haven't heard of a performer who doesn't experience stagefright in some capacity.  The good performers have just learned to control it.

[dora96]

I would suggest that avoiding playing in front of other pianists, and avoiding stressful performances is really limiting yourself.  It might be better to accept stress and anxiety and just do it anyways.  I haven't heard of a performer who doesn't experience stagefright in some capacity.  The good performers have just learned to control it.

Thank you for your responses to my post. It is not easy to be any kind performer alone classical piano performer. The nature of instrument (piano), such as huge object. not like other instruments that I can carry around and not like guitar , flute or violin  I  can play any time and anywhere. A piano I have to sit and play. I watched  Elton John's performance once and he said that when he plays the piano, it is hard to interact with his audiences, because the piano is so big not like a guitar you can walk to be closer to the audiences to make his audiences more excited. Generally, when there are  piano recitals,  people want to be far away from you, it seems that they don't want to disturb the performer.

I find that the worse things I hear my friends said to me " you are so brilliant whatever I do they won't be able to do in a million year".  Or they know some pianists  they are so brilliant and clever, the fingers move up and down from the keyboard. their skill and technique absolutely mind blowing, but nevertheless, most of the classical  music like a blur and load of noise  doom and groan  really don't understand what they are playing. or they may said the chance to be piano performer is so slim and competitive. Whatever how good you are, you will never be good enough , plus I need huge resources like study with piano master, the  time, the money and effort , huge scarifies. Some of my friends can' t understand why should I put myself into such as stress and pressure specially, I am not very young. When I hear it, I feel like someone just punch me in the stomach. I do explain to them I am not showing off or gain any accreditation but I just simply like to play and share my music and doing what I passion of music and have a chance to practice how to be performer perhaps one day. I know this is very tough world especially in form of art.  I do understand I have been taking the comments quite emotionally and I don't blame them there will be tear and disappointment, negative result.  I do believe as person wants to achieve something have to start somewhere, and have to have faith. I know my friends try to warn me the scarifies and heartache, it may not even become a reality

You did mention avoid playing among other pianists and professional pianist limiting myself. I think you are right. I think that it is wake up call for me. My original idea, I want to have fun and play the piano in relaxing way, if my path will lead to be more serious and more ambitious I will go and join some performance organisation or piano competition.