How to overcome stage fear?

[ladychopin]

Hello everyone
My teacher wants me to perform and alot but i have a weird stage fear .I have no problem acting in front of 300 people but to play for 10 people make me nervous and my hands shake!
What can I do?
Please....

[lloyd_cdb]

Play in a 'safe' environment before you go on to perform for random people.  Start by playing in front of friends or family in very small groups, and move on to playing for strangers.  There's no magic formula, you just need to take the leap.

[scherzo123]

My leg shakes like crazy when I play for professional musicians even though I'm not nervous at all...

[ladychopin]

Play in a 'safe' environment before you go on to perform for random people.  Start by playing in front of friends or family in very small groups, and move on to playing for strangers.  There's no magic formula, you just need to take the leap.

But it's scary because I will have to see them a day after even if i will fail!
And It's really not fun to play in a concert mosly Bach and a bit beethovan and chopin when other plays only ronamntic music

[49410enrique]

But it's scary because I will have to see them a day after even if i will fail!
And It's really not fun to play in a concert mosly Bach and a bit beethovan and chopin when other plays only ronamntic music

actually it's your bach and beethoven that sound way more fun than only romantic stuff....

just sayin.

[pianoplunker]

Hello everyone
My teacher wants me to perform and alot but i have a weird stage fear .I have no problem acting in front of 300 people but to play for 10 people make me nervous and my hands shake!
What can I do?
Please....

Just act - act like a virtuoso

[hfmadopter]

But it's scary because I will have to see them a day after even if i will fail!
And It's really not fun to play in a concert mosly Bach and a bit beethovan and chopin when other plays only ronamntic music

As has been mentioned you will need to get some small groups together and just do it. You don't have to all your pieces for the smaller groups either, just do a couple at random as often as you can, even out in some lounge would be better yet.. Back when I had a teacher we had work shops for this and plus she would send us out to perform for local groups in town before something big came up. That helped prepare us/me anyway, for a larger performance. Still got nervous before the event going on stage but once seated it all came together. The first piece might come off a bit tight but as the performance moved on it got looser. The largest group I did a performance in front of was almost 200 people and I made it through, didn't fall apart at all ! You can too. The thing is, it doesn't matter how big the group is, all it takes is one individual that you feel will be citical about your playing and the sensation is the exact same feeling. That's why I say get out and play or invite people in. Us musical types sometimes are not all that extraverted I know but that's what it takes, IMO. Our music is so personal but what good is it if nobody ever hears it sort of thing !

That was a long time ago, now I'm tight again with one stranger around but getting better all over again ( I was away from my piano for a bunch of years, now trying to play catch up).

[charmsjr94]

I'm in almost the same situation! My teacher has assigned me Bach, Mozart, and a Chopin Nocturne (which is actually quite fun) while one of the other freshman has been assigned DeBussy's "Reflets Dans L'eau" which is basically all runs. And I have to play in front of these kids. College is hard.

[Bob]

Realistic expectations and preparation.

Practice performing.

[iansinclair]

But it's scary because I will have to see them a day after even if i will fail!
And It's really not fun to play in a concert mosly Bach and a bit beethovan and chopin when other plays only ronamntic music

Don't even think "fail".  Even if you make a colossal mistake (or several even!) it's not the end of the world.  I have been to concerts where I have heard major virtuosos get completely tangled, stop, and start again.  I have done it myself... (mind, I'm not a major virtuoso, though!).

Stage fright, though, is perfectly real.  I've always had the feeling that if you didn't have either you were dead or you didn't have the wit to realise all the things that could go wrong.  Like everything else, practice helps in coping with it -- as hfmadopter said.

[hfmadopter]

Don't even think "fail".  Even if you make a colossal mistake (or several even!) it's not the end of the world.  I have been to concerts where I have heard major virtuosos get completely tangled, stop, and start again.  I have done it myself... (mind, I'm not a major virtuoso, though!).

Stage fright, though, is perfectly real.  I've always had the feeling that if you didn't have either you were dead or you didn't have the wit to realise all the things that could go wrong.  Like everything else, practice helps in coping with it -- as hfmadopter said.

Ya, as I said we had those work shops the teacher put on ( was a certain Wed night of the month, I forget which one) and that was a great experience for us who attended. There was a lady there who when she got up to play her hands were trembling she was so nervous. One day all of a sudden that wasn't happening anymore. This was an adult work shop and the teacher didn't care what level you played at, you could be at one year and still go, we heard everything from John Thompsons level one books pieces to Chopin Preludes and Etudes to somebody's Sonatas and me with my slightly re arranged movie themes sometimes.. It really was a lot of fun and the point was just to play in front of the other students. She also had a work shop for kids on another night. Totally voluntary. If I ever accumulate enough students I may try this myself with them.

[maxwebr]

I just 4 months ago finshed a concert at the Weill Hall in NYC at Carnegie Hall. If that doesn't put the pressure on I don't know what will. I always have trouble with stage fright. Though what helps is performing for as many people you can before the big event. Keep in mind those pre-concerts are not expected to be perfect, and I know this but always keep beating myself up.
Another thing that helps (for me at least) is beta blockers. Keep the flight or fight at bay. I would surely test dosages before doing a big concert, but I have no problems with the drug.
Even if you stop or stumble. Being confident that you can continue is important. I was in the final part of the 3rd Ballade of Chopin when I vapor locked. I remained calm and had to litterly skip a few bars ahead to finish. The crowd love it.
I am not a professional.. just a amateur that love to perform for others.

[chapplin]

The more you do it, the less scared you will become.
It's the most true method for overcoming stage fear completely.
Just do it, you'll do great.

[ladychopin]

Thank you!

[dora96]

I used to get stage fear, but I forced myself to perform a lot, but I find the most difficult to cope with instrument. Sometimes, I have to perform in a grand piano, different sound, touching and height of seat, it really makes huge difference when I play at home with own piano. I am so used to upright piano, come to grand piano, the touching, weight of the keys feel heavier than normal piano, it make me feel bit intimated.

memory leap is also set back, turning pages if I am reading the scores, distraction from noise. I mean how to cope with these sort external problems. 

[natalyaturetskii]

I agree with what other people have said. I always get nervous for anything and I would always make stupid mistakes and hang my head in shame afterwards. And so everyone except my teacher thought that I was bad because I could not play in front of anyone, and in exams, my teacher was always shocked at my results, as I would play well in front of him.

But, I forced myself to perform in every little situation possible. Inevitably, I failed many times, but soon after, my confidence was much better!

Hope this helps,
Natalya