Having a recital and being sick

[littletune]

Hi! 
Well I have been sick all this week and had a pretty high fever... And tomorrow I have a piano recital. And I am a lot better now, and yesterday I didn't have a high fever anymore but it's just that I'm a little worried because I'm just soooo tired! And I sleep till afternoon and right after I get up I feel like I'm feeling really ok, but after an hour I just get sooooo tired!!! And I'm a little worried how feeling so tired affects the way you play... and of course I also wasn't practicing as much as I would if I wasn't sick (besides the problem with the neighbours  )... and I didn't have my piano lesson this week either.
And I mean I kinda feel like I should play in the recital anyway... it's supposed to be a fun recital and I'm playing my first Sonatina ever so I can't really imagine not going... I'm expecting to make some mistakes but... I feel like I should go anyway. Is that a stupid thing to do?  And is there something I could do or take that would make me not so tired for that hour or two?  (But I'm just a kid so I couldn't take anything that's meant just for adults). And I'm also pretty nervous at my recitals so I'm not sure how being nervous and feeling tired goes together. 

Well I just thought I would ask if anyone had any advice or anything, becuse I'm thinking so much about it. I was even dreaming about it today... and right after I woke up I thought I had the recital today already! So it's kinda bothering me I guess...
Well so if anyone had any comments or suggestions about it that would be great!

[jimbo320]

Littletune,
It's kinda like when I had to get over having stage fright. Realize that you're not performing for the audiences approval but rather the audience is coming to appreciate what melodic stories that unfold as you play.
You have a story in your heart that needs to be told. Tell it, they will listen...
Good luck tomorrow.

Musically, Jimbo

[m1469]

I don't have any recommendations on stuff you can take, and I do understand your concerns.  I don't think it's stupid for you to play anyway, but as always, don't let one recital shape your entire concept of what you are capable of.  It might go extremely well, and in that case you can always put a feather in your cap, that you know you are capable of playing well even under circumstances that aren't ideal.  Most of the time, circumstances just won't be ideal anyway, in one form or another, I think.

There was once a circumstance where I played in a situation that I was actually *extremely* sick, where I could hardly get out of bed that very day (this was not an ordinary virus or sickness, it was truly extreme), but because of certain factors, felt I had almost zero choice about whether or not I could play.  As it turns out, it was one of the better times I had ever played because I had to dig so far into a different dimension to find the strength and focus.  

It's up to you, obviously, and even though you're not in an ideal situation, it can still go well and be a positive experience.  Either way, treat it as a learning experience.

[littletune]

Thank you Jimbo and m1469 for the great comments!   
I guess I really shouldn't worry so much about it! I feel like I have to play and I guess I should even if it won't be that great but I do have something to tell (and also to learn) so I guess that's the most important!
Thank you both!! 

[becky8898]

Hi Littletune.  Doesnt it suck to have to perform and feel yucky.  You know my grandma told me to always be a little of a show person if you have to. Let the audience know if your a little under the weather.  Have a hankerchief with you when you walk out on stage.  Wipe your nose and mouth . Cough a little.  People will admire you for playing thru your cold.  Anyway thats what I would do.  Horowitz used to walk out on the stage with a hanky all the time. 

Best of luck at your recital. 

Cheers, Becky

[littletune]

Thank you Becky!  That's a great advise!  I'll have a handkerchief with me tomorrow for sure!!  Thanks! 

[countrymath]

Hey, Littletune. Do you have msn?

[soitainly]

 Sorry to hear about your sickness, but if you are able to get up and play I think you should. I don't know if I would recommend anything to wake you up, I have a feeling that the adrinalin from performing will do that anyway. I would refrain from eating a big meal just before playing of course. I think it builds character to perform in less than perfect conditions. So unless physical activity could cause you further illness, I say go for it. You may be surprised as sometimes people play above themselves when they go through adversity. It's a bad habit to get into to skip out on responsibilities unless you really are incapacitated.

[Bob]

If you're sick, just don't play. 

But if you do (or did), I would try to go first so you can leave right away or get there thirty minutes after it starts, walk in, play, and leave.

And majorly disinfect your hands.  You could make everyone else who touches the piano sick which is why I would say don't go.  Unless there really is a way to play at the very end so no one has to touch a piano after a sick person played on it.  Even then, you could still breath out germs that someone else could pick up.

[littletune]

Hey, Littletune. Do you have msn?

No now I don't... I had it for a while but then it said there were some new updates and then it was updating... but then my computer stoped working... and now I just don't open msn anymore because my computer is REALYYYY old and these things are just too much for it...
But I have facebook

Thanks for the comments Soitainly and Bob! Well I did go to the recital yesterday It was cool, even thought I made mistakes  but well I hope I didn't make anyone sick! I mean... you can get sick anywhere all the time... you have to be sick sometimes... that's like you know when you work out that's exercise for your muscles and when you learn and try to figure out something that's exercise for your brain and when you're sick that's exercise for your immune system  I'm sick really a lot lately... so I'm getting really a lot of immune system exercise!   

[psylocke24]

I just read your post, congrats and you did well in your recital. I think my suggestion is still not too late eat more fruits especially orange or drink juice because you need more vitamin C.

[noon]

Hi there, I think the best what you can do is  to hide how you feel, that's what will represent you as an exellent performer. That's  what I teach my students of course there are a tricks which will help you  to feel confidence and they have to be done during the practice. Most importantly I think you need a little vacation after recital. Best of luck .

[littletune]

I just read your post, congrats and you did well in your recital. I think my suggestion is still not too late eat more fruits especially orange or drink juice because you need more vitamin C.

Thank you for your comment! No your suggestion is not too late, because I'm still very tired all the time and still coughing and sneezing sometimes... so I think I really need A LOT of vitamins Thanks!

Hi there, I think the best what you can do is  to hide how you feel, that's what will represent you as an exellent performer. That's  what I teach my students of course there are a tricks which will help you  to feel confidence and they have to be done during the practice. Most importantly I think you need a little vacation after recital. Best of luck .

Thank you for your comment! yes I think I would really need a little vacation because I'm sooo tired all the time Thanks for the advise!