Auditioning

[darksyndrem]

I'm not positive that this is the right place to put this, but it's too late now.

I have an audition this saturday, and I usually get anxious and nervous pretty easily. So I was wanting to know what you guys do to calm down before an audition? Or if you have any sort of tips/advice.

Thanks in advance.

[pianisten1989]

Most of the times you accually know the piece/s you're going to play, but your brain blocks it with negative thoughts. Start thinking positive, about you playing really great and everything that you're good at. Not what can go wrong, and everything you're less good at.

[prongated]

Also, eat some chocolate before you go on stage. I forgot to eat mine in my last recital and ended up with 6 bars' worth of missing notes

[darksyndrem]

Also, eat some chocolate before you go on stage. I forgot to eat mine in my last recital and ended up with 6 bars' worth of missing notes

Why's that??

[pianisten1989]

To get some extra energy, i guess. I sometimes eats some candy, or have an energy-drink some minues before.

[darksyndrem]

To get some extra energy, i guess. I sometimes eats some candy, or have an energy-drink some minues before.

I see, I may give it a try. But I may be a bit sensitive to caffeine now (I have quit caffeine completely for awhile now), so I don't know if it'd make me too shaky to play?

[pianisten1989]

I see, I may give it a try. But I may be a bit sensitive to caffeine now (I have quit caffeine completely for awhile now), so I don't know if it'd make me too shaky to play?

If a candybar makes you shaky, you have bigger problems than playing the piano
And I'm not talking coffee. I guess you have vitamin-pills where you live. I use those one mixes up with water. That's no caffeine or anything, just vitamins.

[darksyndrem]

If a candybar makes you shaky, you have bigger problems than playing the piano
And I'm not talking coffee. I guess you have vitamin-pills where you live. I use those one mixes up with water. That's no caffeine or anything, just vitamins.

Lol A candybar shouldn't do that, but sweet tea does on occasion.

[prongated]

To get some extra energy, i guess.

It's energy...for the brain
So energy drinks is not a good idea ^^

[lostinidlewonder]

Banana's are supposed to be good brain food for exams etc. It is a mental problem that you need to overcome, most people put too much emphasis on the importance of exams/auditions etc. The reality is that if you totally stuff it up it is NOT the end of the world. If it is, then you must reassess what it means to be successful in this world (it certainly is not winning every time, most millionares in this world where bankrupt many times over before they succeeded). Examiners also are real people with their own imperfections and problems in life, they are not super humans or someone to be feared.

[omar_roy]

Caffeine before a performance is bad.  Your metabolism will already be racing with adrenaline once you're on stage.  You'll get the shakes bad.

I usually do a swig or two from my flask before I go on stage.  But you're underage, so don't do that.

On a more serious note, there are scientific studies that support the notion that being nervous makes you do better, provided you acknowledge that fact as well.  You have to accept that you will be nervous, but you also have to believe that the nervous energy, the adrenaline that floods your veins will help you focus and think more clearly.  So being nervous is good! If you weren't nervous, I'd say you have mental issues.

[fbt]

Eat some bananas. They are suppose to have a natural beta blocker

[mike_in_nyc]

If the problem is axiety or nerves, then I would stay away from anything with sugar or caffeine - energy drinks, candy, chocolate bars, etc. That will just make you more shaky, and nervous.

[liordavid]

I just find a piece that i can play well and shows technique and musicality. For several auditions I play Beethoven's opus 14 no 2 sonata and all o fthose auditions have went great

[zhibinchiam]

Yea, I believe that if you find the right connection, where you truly feel like the piece is indeed coming from you, so to speak, and you have something you really want to express, you should be able to play with conviction, and forget about nerves.