stage fright

[cucudas]

i have real bad stage fright..and tried in many ways to go over it
but i can't 
do you guys have any stretagies that you go over it??
if i say..when i practice a song alone, i get 5 miss keys, and when i perform infront of other people..i get about 200 miss keys
why is that??
my teacher said not enough practice..but i don't think it's all that

[paulfechner]

stage fright is a very complex thing with many reasons which are different for everyone. you cant see it objectivly. it doesnt exist any *secret* that will blow away your stage fright...you must know the reasons which make you nervous when you have to play in front of many people. its also a question of how you practice and memorize a piece. you should buy a book on that topic and search the forum.

greetz

Paul

[Bassman]

I think that the best way to get over stage fright is to play your piece around different people.  If you have a few friends that you hang around with, ask them if they will come listen you play a piece.  Play for the people you work with.

My #1 way is to record your self.  I find it harder to play for a taperecorder than a live audience.  Dont know why. 

Just do it often is the best thing to say.  Play for people you wouldn't normally play for.  I play for my choir teacher a school, some of my friends at school, especially before a big performance.

Hope this helps,

-Best Wishes

[anda]

try reading this:

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,479.0.html
https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,6656.0.html
https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,5955.0.html
https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,4029.0.html

best luck

[lagin]

I just finished having an hour lecture from my teacher about keeping my composure on the stage.  Here's what I've got, and I find it has actually been working ALOT.

1.  Breathe, plan to breathe regularly.  Keep your lungs full.  Don't wait until they're empty, before you replenish.  Whenever a tricky spot is coming up remember to do this.  It keeps your mind clearer, and keeps the panick at bay.  Simple, but it works.

2.  Do relaxation checks.  Plan every so often when you're playing to think, "are my shoulders tense, ect.,"  My teacher even suggested drawing happy faces on the hard spots of the music.  I found that when I'm really tense.  I run out of energy and thus accuracy before I'm even done my piece.  Stressing out used up too much of my strength.

3.  This one really does work even though I was very skeptical at first.  Think positively.  "Oh, This is the place that I can do, and it sounds really cool."  (even if you generally can't).  I tried it a few days ago, and I made it through a spot that I can hardly do without an audience.

4.  Don't take mistakes seriously.  Just think, "Oh well, I'll get it next time," when you make them.  Every does understand.  But do keep going.  Don't back up and play the missed notes again.  It only makes it worse for the listeners.  They might not even notice if you push on without hesitating. 

5.  Remeber, even Rachmaninoff had "off" days.  We all mess up.  We all mustb just be human!

6.  Practice performing in front of others, even just your friends, whenever you can.  It will get easier.

7.  Know that relaxing takes practice and the more you perform the better it gets, but this too, is a gradual thing.  Sometimes Three steps forward, and two steps back, but if you perservere it will improve.

8.  I know this sounds rather simple, and I'm sure you've heard similar stuff before, as have I, but last week I really started to apply it since I had nothing to lose, and IT SERIOUSLY WORKS!  I'm so excited!

[lagin]

I just finished having an hour lecture from my teacher about keeping my composure on the stage.  Here's what I've got, and I find it has actually been working ALOT.

1.  Breathe, plan to breathe regularly.  Keep your lungs full.  Don't wait until they're empty, before you replenish.  Whenever a tricky spot is coming up remember to do this.  It keeps your mind clearer, and keeps the panick at bay.  Simple, but it works.

2.  Do relaxation checks.  Plan every so often when you're playing to think, "are my shoulders tense, ect.,"  My teacher even suggested drawing happy faces on the hard spots of the music.  I found that when I'm really tense.  I run out of energy and thus accuracy before I'm even done my piece.  Stressing out used up too much of my strength.

3.  This one really does work even though I was very skeptical at first.  Think positively.  "Oh, This is the place that I can do, and it sounds really cool."  (even if you generally can't).  I tried it a few days ago, and I made it through a spot that I can hardly do without an audience.

4.  Don't take mistakes seriously.  Just think, "Oh well, I'll get it next time," when you make them.  Every does understand.  But do keep going.  Don't back up and play the missed notes again.  It only makes it worse for the listeners.  They might not even notice if you push on without hesitating.  

5.  Remeber, even Rachmaninoff had "off" days.  We all mess up.  We all mustb just be human!

6.  Practice performing in front of others, even just your friends, whenever you can.  It will get easier.

7.  Know that relaxing takes practice and the more you perform the better it gets, but this too, is a gradual thing.  Sometimes Three steps forward, and two steps back, but if you perservere it will improve.

8.  I know this sounds rather simple, and I'm sure you've heard similar stuff before, as have I, but last week I really started to apply it since I had nothing to lose, and IT SERIOUSLY WORKS!  I'm so excited!

[steinwayguy]

One of the most important elements of performance in my opinion is not analyzing your playing. If you miss a note, you cannot think "oh God I hope I don't screw up anymore". This leads to mindless playing. You are guaranteed to miss more notes and on top of that you won't be playing music.

Last semester was my first experience of performing regularly. Luckily, I was performing many Chopin etudes  . I realized that after the first bad performance of one, the next week all I would think about is "last week sucked. don't screw up as badly as you did last week."  It continued on for a couple months. Horrific. Now I just tell myself "it's music, and you love it".

It is essential to get in to the character of the music you are playing. Haydn- you need to be really really happy to give a convincing performance. Liszt- you're a virtuoso jack ass, arrogant and risk-taking. Etc. etc.

Also, before you play, sit down, and as other people have said, breathe. Look at the keys. Look at them until you can't resist playing, and then play. But you must hear the music in your head before you play, otherwise it will be a terrible start!