pianists taking anti-anxiety drugs before performance?

[noambenhamou]

I told my piano teacher that I never play infront of people is because I get too nervous. My hands shake so I can't hit the right notes, I have fear of forgetting etc...

He nonchalanty said "every body is afraid of that, and if it gets pretty bad you take anti anxiety. alot of pianists do that". He said it in a way like I should have known this already. How strange that somehow I never knew this.

what are your opinions regarding this?
I see how that could be a solution. Especially if the anxiety is uncontrollable and way beyond your standard breathing exercises.
My two negative thoughts regarding this are:
1) is it cheating?
2) Could nervousness perhaps be beneficial to playing better. For example, if you were doing the 100M dash, you will run faster if you are nervous and have adrenalin pumping through your body. Could it be the same with piano? Does adrenalin raise your concentration level? speed up reflexes?

I'm curious to know what everyone thinks.
Noam

[pbryld]

Just make sure it doesn't show up in the blood test.

[nyiregyhazi]

I told my piano teacher that I never play infront of people is because I get too nervous. My hands shake so I can't hit the right notes, I have fear of forgetting etc...

He nonchalanty said "every body is afraid of that, and if it gets pretty bad you take anti anxiety. alot of pianists do that". He said it in a way like I should have known this already. How strange that somehow I never knew this.

what are your opinions regarding this?
I see how that could be a solution. Especially if the anxiety is uncontrollable and way beyond your standard breathing exercises.
My two negative thoughts regarding this are:
1) is it cheating?
2) Could nervousness perhaps be beneficial to playing better. For example, if you were doing the 100M dash, you will run faster if you are nervous and have adrenalin pumping through your body. Could it be the same with piano? Does adrenalin raise your concentration level? speed up reflexes?

I'm curious to know what everyone thinks.
Noam

If it's especially bad, I'd look to technical issues first. I used to have major problems with this. The problem was that my hands were too floppy and my arms were too stiff. When the hand connects to the piano properly, instead of the arm stiffening it will naturally be able to loosen up and absorb the trembling. If you try to fight trembling by tensing your arms, it only gets worse and worse. At one point, I used to have to make my arm rigid simply to play a single line melody accurately. However, there's no better way to ease nerves than the sense of physical security that comes from good technique and good connection to the piano.

[keyboardclass]

If it's especially bad, I'd look to technical issues first. I used to have major problems with this. The problem was that my hands were too floppy and my arms were too stiff. When the hand connects to the piano properly, instead of the arm stiffening it will naturally be able to loosen up and absorb the trembling. If you try to fight trembling by tensing your arms, it only gets worse and worse. At one point, I used to have to make my arm rigid simply to play a single line melody accurately. However, there's no better way to ease nerves than the sense of physical security that comes from good technique and good connection to the piano.

Rubbish.  It's caused by the extra adrenaline released by the flight or fight instinct.  Beta-blockers block it.

[thalbergmad]

I need anti anxiety drugs before logging on this forum.

Thal

[keyboardclass]

Too many forget their medication.

[nyiregyhazi]

Rubbish.  It's caused by the extra adrenaline released by the flight or fight instinct.  Beta-blockers block it.

Sure. The world is a simple place where everything can be put down to a single cause.

Or, rather no- it isn't. I get as nervous about playing now as I ever did before. However, with the ability to stabilise against that without seizing up my arm, if I start shaking it soon goes away. The adrenaline is not remotely different to how it ever had been. .

[richard black]

The problem with adrenalin is that it builds up in expectation of 'fight or flight'. If there is no such sudden physical activity, the adrenalin swills round the system and causes all the symptoms that we group under the name 'nerves'. One of the best ways of dealing with excess adrenalin is to do some vigorous physical activity. It needs to be quite soon before a performance but up to an hour before seems to work. A 10-minute brisk walk is better than nothing. Just about the worst thing one can do, in some ways, is to follow the common advice to sit still and do nothing.

But to come back to the original question, plenty of musicians (and indeed actors) take anti-anxiety drugs. Most aren't proud of it but come to regard it as just another necessary evil.

[countrymath]

punkpianist will show up on this topic

[sharon_f]

I am sure he is not talking about anti-anxiety drugs, but rather beta-blockers which are a whole different classification of drug. Beta-blockers do not take away any of the nervousness or anxiety that may accompany performing. They do, however, take away some of the more disabling physical symptons such as hand tremors, sweating and heart palpitations. I have taken them and have found them enormously helpful. Make sure you get them through a reputable doctor who will be able to judge that you don't have any physical conditions that would make them dangerous. He will also make sure they don't interact negatively with any other medications you may be taking.

[pianisten1989]

Some people will probably say it's cheating, and then go and play the Liszt B minor in Carnegie Hall. I, who don't have those sorts of concerts, don't think it's cheating. It's not a competition in the way a sprint race is.

As some other pointed out, I'm quite sure she talks about beta-blockers. And you only need like 5mg, so it's not dangerous. And if you're shaking so that you can't focus your hands, you should try it. Though, I don't think you should try it just to cut corners. Everybody IS getting nervous when they're playing in front of people, and it IS just to practise that will help you with that. The beta blockers will only help you from shaking.

[angeleyescj]

I think it's totally up to you. If pills will help, great! However, sometimes nerves can be good as your senses are sharp and you can then better reflect later on what you did wrong and can improve on.

I don't use pills, though I once tried rescue herbal tabs. I found that I perform better without anything. For me it's all about forgetting the nerves when you're busy performing. It's a beautiful feeling to get lost in the music you are creating without the help of anti-anxiety drugs.

CJ

[gerryjay]

I need anti anxiety drugs before logging on this forum.

Thal

[miriamko]

It's the utter panic, the inner screaming of "why did I agree to do this. It's the LAST time" (which of course it isn't!), the breathlessness and the fear which makes performing so painful. A small dose of beta-blockers (with doctor's advice , of course) can make this controllable. Just use them on special occasions. I would not take anti-anxiety drugs as they may make you sleepy and a bit uninspired.

[keyboardclass]

I think it's all this perfectionism brought on by recordings that are the problem.  In the old days when in trouble you just made it up!  Anton Rubinstein said he let enough notes fall under the piano to provide a whole additional progamme.

[cdales]

I thought it was Arthur (aka Artur) Rubinstein who said that 

[keyboardclass]

I thought it was Arthur (aka Artur) Rubinstein who said that 

No, Anton.

[krystellle]

Artur hated being confused with Anton!

[sucom]

I need anti anxiety drugs before logging on this forum.

Thal

Haha, that brought a smile tonight    (Can't help but wonder why so many forums are like that, lol)

I'm not sure if I would like to take any anti anxiety drugs before a performance but I wish I'd thought about it in a concert I did when I was 13.  I remember feeling really faint before walking on that platform and so nervous I couldn't even remember the first note of the pieces I was playing until I actually sat down at the piano.  So scary!

The weirdest thing that happened to me was during my recital diploma and it really surprised me when I began to play.  My right heel started to shake, making pedalling pretty difficult at first.  It only happened that one time I'm glad to say.

[gvans]

I agree with those who point out the important difference between anti-anxiety drugs and beta-blockers. Years ago I played a Brahms viola sonata with a string player who dosed herself with a load of Valium before the concert. The performance, needless to say, was a disaster.

Unlike benzodiazipines such as Valium or Xanax (the usual anti-anxiety drugs) which directly and adversely affect the brain, beta-blockers put a lid on your native epinephrine, or Adrenalin (a brand name). They do not cloud your thinking; the effect is quite subtle. But, they can also, unfortunately, put a lid on the emotional heights reached in one's performance; one must weigh the downside of nervous energy with its upside.

The dose of propanolol, the most common generic beta-blocker, varies from individual to individual, as we all seem to carry different numbers of adrenergic receptors. So, it's wise to try some out at rehearsal. 5 mg may not touch you, except as a placebo. 20 may be better. Also, the stuff inhibits the liver's reaction to hypoglycemia, so you'd best have some orange juice or something before a big concert. The brain depends on serum glucose for adequate function. Beta-blocking drugs can also give you postural hypotension, that is, make you faint if you jump up from the artist's bench too fast.

IMHO, the best way to control performance anxiety--is to perform. There is nothing better for the jitters than to give the same concert three or four times in a week.

Sorry for all the pontification. I'm a pianist who still has a day job as an anesthesiologist.