Performance Failures

[didi100]

When I am at my own piano and am alone, I play very well, but something happens when I play on other pianos in front of an audience no matter how few. I've really spent so much time practicing my pieces, but each time I play, it is a disaster! I don't know what to do. I don't feel nervousness when I sit down to play. I don't know whether its that I feel nervous about performing on unfamiliar pianos.Any suggestions? It's a very frustrating problem. 

[visitor]

Because they are different.
You practice alone and on same instrument you get better at playing alone on that instrument.
If you want to get better at playing in front of other people you need to practice the performance in similar conditons

You need to practice playing in front of other people to get better at playing in front of  people.

You need to practicw and perform on different pianos in order to build the skillset that you need to allow you to aclimate and adjust when playing on unfamiliar instrumentz.
 
This should be part of your teacher's studio curriculum, creating performance opportunities in the form of regular studio performance classes , recitals, etc and different venue options as well

[louispodesta]

When I am at my own piano and am alone, I play very well, but something happens when I play on other pianos in front of an audience no matter how few. I've really spent so much time practicing my pieces, but each time I play, it is a disaster! I don't know what to do. I don't feel nervousness when I sit down to play. I don't know whether its that I feel nervous about performing on unfamiliar pianos.Any suggestions? It's a very frustrating problem. 

I am 65, and I have incurred many of your same problems.  However, before I can respond, I need to know what your teacher says about your situation.

[didi100]

Right now, I do not have an instructor. I have asked previous instructors in the past and they never offered any suggestions except to try to play on different pianos.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

It's an ego thing.  That's why we all get nervous.

Control your ego and you won't get nervous.

Cause the fact that you're nervous about the different piano you're playing on isn't about the piano, or the audience, or the environment, it's about you.

So the way you get around that is by not putting yourself over the music.  Instead of thinking, 'Okay this is an unfamiliar piano, I hope this piano doesn't mess me up I don't wanna look bad in front of the audience', you should really be thinking 'Okay I have business to take care of.  I gotta bring out the intentions of this composers music to the audience as best I can'

So if you make the music the priority, and not yourself, you trivialize all the external stuff like the different piano, sweaty fingers, big audience etc, and you play better cause you're not as nervous anymore.

[mrcreosote]

There are things you can do to change things up on your piano:

• Vary he lighting - extremely bright to dark
• Vary your clothing - play with a suit or sport coat on or something even more restrictive
• Vary your seat height, distance from piano, and location sideways
• Play your pieces backwards: play your sections in reverse order
• Play your pieces very, very excruciatingly slowly

[louispodesta]

Right now, I do not have an instructor. I have asked previous instructors in the past and they never offered any suggestions except to try to play on different pianos.

Thank you for sharing your current situation of not having an instructor.  Now, I need to know just how long you have been playing, and what your repertoire level is.  You are asking questions that suggest a very high level of performance.

[didi100]

I am in my sixties and have been playing most of my life. I've been without an instructor for only a few months but in search of a new instructor. I've played about 7 Beethoven sonatas, Chopin ballades, scherzos, etudes, nocturnes.

[louispodesta]

I am in my sixties and have been playing most of my life. I've been without an instructor for only a few months but in search of a new instructor. I've played about 7 Beethoven sonatas, Chopin ballades, scherzos, etudes, nocturnes.

Without belaboring the point, could you cite one or two pieces wherein, the odd performance piano gave you trouble with a particular Beethoven Sonata, Chopin Piece, or other?

[chopinlover3]

When I am at my own piano and am alone, I play very well, but something happens when I play on other pianos in front of an audience no matter how few. I've really spent so much time practicing my pieces, but each time I play, it is a disaster! I don't know what to do. I don't feel nervousness when I sit down to play. I don't know whether its that I feel nervous about performing on unfamiliar pianos.Any suggestions? It's a very frustrating problem.  

[chopinlover3]

My best solution is to find a university or school of music that has a class that specializes in teaching performing. Most are suited for all instruments but instructors are usually trained to provide piano performance instruction. When I performed my hands would shake uncontrollably but after taking a performance class in college I have no more problems now. I perform like a seasoned professional now!
Sorry, I'm new at posting here. I posted as a quote instead as a reply.

[louispodesta]

My best solution is to find a university or school of music that has a class that specializes in teaching performing. Most are suited for all instruments but instructors are usually trained to provide piano performance instruction. When I performed my hands would shake uncontrollably but after taking a performance class in college I have no more problems now. I perform like a seasoned professional now!
Sorry, I'm new at posting here. I posted as a quote instead as a reply.

If you are for real, then please state the name and the associated faculty members of this "performance school."  I (for one), have never heard of such a music school.

If in fact there is, I will get in line with every one else.

[mrcreosote]

I know for a fact, that the focusing technique athletes use before doing a vault, throwing a shot, lifting a weight apply directly.  I don't know he process, but the objective is to focus your mind, eliminating all extraneous thought.  It is a form of isolation where you and your objective reside - nothing else.

This is all very Eastern.  And while these meditative techniques are taught in sports, I do not believe they are commonly taught in musical performance where the teaching of technique is also not as developed as in sports.  NOTE:  I think this is because there is more money in sports and more readily available talent in music so there is no need to develop more musicians.

What is so unfair is that an orchestra gets to "loosen up" before the show starts while the pianist has to walk onto the stage pretty much cold.  So we really are like the athlete taking his first shot at he bar.