cope with nerves?

[ponecorleone]

my performance went really bad, but before i was playing it pretty well, i missed out about half a page on the agiatato bit which i knew off by heart. i place it soley down to nerves. (i played rechmaninoff) what can i do about nerves!?!

[Dazzer]

alot of practice.

[Mozartian]

my performance went really bad, but before i was playing it pretty well, i missed out about half a page on the agiatato bit which i knew off by heart. i place it soley down to nerves. (i played rechmaninoff) what can i do about nerves!?!

I empathise.

[Dazzer]

lemme let you listen to a recording where nerves just fall through.

happens to everyone
-------------------------------------------------
just in my defense for my horrid playing (come on let the guy keep his fragile ego)
1) i've played that better.
2) it was a final year assessment ARGH!
3) i had to play 6 pieces.
4) they put me last in the programme
5) i had to wait 3 hours before my turn
6) it was 11pm - snore -

heehee

[keys]

I get so nervous! And I totally can't eat when I'm nervous. So last week I was competing, and I didn't eat, and then none of my pants fit so I had nothing to wear for mother's day. The first three days of competition were the worst, after that I  got used to it. If you play a lot you learn to suck it up. I don't really get nervous when it's just a performance, because everyone is there to enjoy your playing. But in a competition, everyone is there to beat you and if you lose they think you suck, and if you win they resent you, so it's a lose/lose situation. I am pessimistic this morning. I find it easier to perform if it's the least stressfull thing I'm doing that week, like if I have a big Chem test the same day. It puts things in perspective. 

[Dazzer]

but i DO suck...lol.

[sonatainfsharp]

For me, I have learned that you just have to do it more and more often. Eventually it is just like going to a job you go to every day.

When you perform/audition only a few times a year, it kills you. I can completely understand where you are coming from.

There was a point in college where I was performing at least once a week if not more than that. It got to the point where I hardly even warmed up--I would just "show up and play" and those were my best performances by far.

(You can also read into this as the more you perform, the better you know your music.)

[tds]

but i DO suck...lol.

wonder what monkeys suck......ahhh, bananahs! no, they bite and eat them! ok, monkeys....... dont suck! they just play the piano really good.  tds;D

[tds]

For me, I have learned that you just have to do it more and more often. Eventually it is just like going to a job you go to every day.

When you perform/audition only a few times a year, it kills you. I can completely understand where you are coming from.

There was a point in college where I was performing at least once a week if not more than that. It got to the point where I hardly even warmed up--I would just "show up and play" and those were my best performances by far.

(You can also read into this as the more you perform, the better you know your music.)

this is just too good of an advice! tds

[Dazzer]

i like bananas.

actually, by thinking that i suck, i feel less pressure from others, cuz i know i'll suck anyway so i'm quite content.

oh who am i kidding...

lol.

[tds]

dazzer ROCKS!!

[Dazzer]

shush stop increasing your post count.

-wink-

[ponecorleone]

Dazzer i listened to your performance and i am gutted, its about 10 times better than mine. i dont have a recording  unfortunately. out of curiosity what did you get for it in assessment? GCSE or College?

I played C#minor etude by chopin a few weeks ago for GCSE and played it ok exept for the second to last line, infuriating!

[Dazzer]

yeh i was a little nervous. blacked out in the middle section. so i got 40 out of 50 for that stupid flump ARGH how annoying!

- sigh -

i did HigherSchoolCertificate. New South Wales.

and its not that good. trust me with practice you'll get better.

[tds]

yeh i was a little nervous. blacked out in the middle section. so i got 40 out of 50 for that stupid flump ARGH how annoying!

- sigh -

i did HigherSchoolCertificate. New South Wales.

and its not that good. trust me with practice you'll get better.

dazz, i just finished listening to your rachmaninoff. taken that you were nervous. you did a pretty good job. it sparks with youthful energy all along (sound quality and focus/discipline are to be worked on, quite a bit). when not nervous, dazzer, can rock the world and shake the moon. tds

[Dazzer]

like i said stop increasing your post count with silly comments like those.

[tds]

shush stop increasing your post count.

-wink-

347, 348, 349, 350...

ahh, i will sleep good tonight.tds

[m1469]

Okay, well nerves are an issue for many for sure.  It has been discussed before and I have provided links to these discussions down below as well as some other resources that can be quite useful.

Here is a little something that I am currently experimenting with :

Just some main points to begin with

1.  As emotion goes up, intelligence seems to go down (so working to control emotion can help)

2.  Confidence comes from experience and achievement; as long as you keep going, the "bad" experiences can be just as useful as the "good" ones, so know that when you make the decision to perform you are signing yourself up to gain confidence no matter what, provided you keep going afterwards.

3.  Nothing deals with anxiety like being prepared.  As soon as one agrees to a performance, a non-specific anxiety may begin and this can work in our favor if dealt  with properly.  The earlier stages can serve as a guidance system and ultimately it wants us to succeed.  So every time that nervousness arises, make a deal with it to rehearse and prepare.  "Okay, I will practice at 9 o' clock" and the anxiety leaves you alone until up until your appointment to practice.  Then you practice and it leaves you alone for a while afterward.  When it comes back, make another appointment to practice and it leaves you alone again.

Preparation is a key.

Then just before you walk out on stage, 3 steps :
 
1.   Connect to Source (whatever that is for each individual : Parents, God... etc.  whatever that is for you) :  Simple and silent, heart-felt, "thank you source"

2.  Connect to Self :  Take in a deep breath and fill yourself completely with your own love.

3.  Connect with them (the audience)/  Make it safe for them to be with you there and see you : Open your heart as though it were a light shining from within you and just shine it on everybody in the room, fill the entire room with it.



Chuan C. Chang's book : Fundamentals of Piano Practice : https://members.aol.com/cc88m/PianoBook.html 
is a great resource for this subject, addressing it directly in sections :

1.3.14 - "Preparing for a Performance and Recitals"
1.3.15 - "Origin and Control of Nervousness" - nervousness becomes a problem when it gets out of control.


I would also note that many of his ideas about practice and the preparartion of pieces, memorization, etc.,  may result for the individual,  in a general comfort with the instrument and pieces that can aid in an individual's general sense of confidence entering into a performance situation.



Effortless Mastery by Kenny Werner has also been a great resource for me in dealing with performance anxiety.  Hopefully sometime there will be another discussion, in-depth discussion, over the book here on the forum  .


And here are some threads where this issue has been discussed :

https://www.pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,4208.msg39083.html#msg39083
(perform a lot in situations that are not stressful and branch out from there - Bernhard- the entire thread is quite helpful and there are many helpful posts from a number of different people)

https://www.pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,4558.msg42811.html#msg42811
(interesting ways of dealing with performance pressure)

https://www.pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,479.msg2471.html#msg2471
(beta blockers?  Every performer deals with nerves)

Sincerely,
m1469

[pizno]

I'm surprised that no one here has suggested beta blockers.  There was a big article in the NYT last fall about how many students at Julliard take them.  They are not a big deal, just slow your heart rate down and stop the butterflies and shaking hands.  I have experimented with them a few times and think they are of value.  I feel much more in control, and actually enjoy playing in front of people now.   I can concentrate on the music and not just on whether or not I can 'get through this'.  Talk to your doctor.  People with low blood pressure should not take them.  Some people think you should be able to perform drug-free, but what the heck, if they make it a better experience and help you perform to your best ability, why not?  Ideally, I suppose, you should be able to play while nervous, but why not give yourself a little help?  Life is too short.

[Dazzer]

that is an interesting concept...

though some poeple might see it like steroids for athletes.

[rohansahai]

There are two ways of handling nervousness:
1. To totally remove it.
2. To play so much with it, that you become used to playing while nervous.
The first method is difficult, psychological and you can never be sure if it will work with you. If it does, you've solved the problem, well and truly and it will never be a problem again. It is just about attitude, how you approach your performance and your attitude towards music in general. Your aim: to create wonderful music. Just make sure that you are so obsessed with this aim that your psyche forgets to become nervous when playing in front of an audience.
The second method can be achieved by playing a lot for the public. Have your friends, relatives sit with you when you practice. RECORD YOUR PLAYING. Pretend to be a professional and set yourself recording dates for the pieces you are working on. For instance, if you think you will be able to finish a piece by the 10th of june, set yourself a date (15th june) to record it. Each recording will make you as nervous as you are when you perform, so the more you do this, the more you will get used to it. The point is to get used to playing with jittery fingers, shaky knees and the fear of blackout every moment so that it becomes normal for you. It will be difficult initially, you WILL get lots of blackouts, make mistakes, but if done properly, it is sure to pay off.
Take care,
Rohan. 

[pianobabe56]

*laughter* The longer you stay on Pianoforum, the more it seems you realize that the Performance board is entirely dedicated to "Woe is me- I suck at piano", "Re-cap of my performance", and "How do I deal with nerves/stagefright" posts. I've read through a lot of these- I've read through the beta blocker recommendations, how to study your music for more effective memory, pre-performance meditation techniques, the works. Here's my advice:

Lighten up! Yes, nerves are still going to happen. I think the hardest thing about being a musician is that we're more emotionally sensitive than other people, and so sharing our music- an intimate part of ourselves- with others, than screwing up, hurts. The most difficult thing, yet one of the most important that a musician can learn, is to keep a positive attitude.

The more you realize that this one piano performance isn't going to determine your attitude, and that your life will not be over if you screw up, the less nerves will affect you. And, yes, performing more helps, if beta blockers work for you, great, if you need to better memorize your music, there are hundreds of posts for you right here at your fingertips.

As much as I love this forum, I feel like people kind of forget that we play piano because we love it, and for no other reason. Don't get too caugt up in the competitions and performances. Lighten up, get out there and share your music!

*end of rant*  

[Bacfokievrahms]

I find that when I play music to share commonality of emotion with others my nervousness is almost nonexistant but if I play as an exhibition of my abilities then I become pretty edgy when i play and not nearly as musical. I feel the significant the difference between the two is a sense of dependance on the reaction of another in the latter.

[ponecorleone]

i always got the idea that unless you weren't going to perform what was the point in playing? i don't agree with this but what annoys me is when you perform badly and you get an applause anyhu, now it seems like any performance is acceptable by the puiblic and i hav to be the critic since noone else is. i think that you should perform to share your music but when it's not near your best and it seems adequate, it lacks insentive to perfect pieces if it will not go noticed.

you have me convinced by the beta blockers ill guzzle them everyday just incase i hav to perform.

[Bacfokievrahms]

Well you'll understand that in both the scenarios that I mentioned - performing with intent of extending emotional bonds and performing with intent of exhibiting my pianistic ability - there was a distinct commonality in that I happened to be performing. What was different was intent.

Of course, I mean something very specific by sharing a commonality of emotion. This requires that you have a good enough handle of the piece to express yourself within it and this usually goes hand in hand with giving a good musical performance. Playing just to have people hear what you're playing is not what I mean and is quite irritating. Playing in a way that extends a deep emotional bonding to those that you play for is much closer.

[LVB op.57]

One major thing is that before and during your playing, you absolutely do not want to be thinking about what everyone else will think of you. Don't think about impressing anybody, not the other pianists, not your teacher, nobody. Also, if you make a mistake, do not dwell on it through the rest of the piece. This will stop you from focusing on what you're currently playing, and that, of course, will stop you from playing your best. To sum it up, do your best to focus on playing your piece(s) to the best of your ability. Remember, this is supposed to be fun.

[Dazzer]

One major thing is that before and during your playing, you absolutely do not want to be thinking about what everyone else will think of you. Don't think about impressing anybody, not the other pianists, not your teacher, nobody. Also, if you make a mistake, do not dwell on it through the rest of the piece. This will stop you from focusing on what you're currently playing, and that, of course, will stop you from playing your best. To sum it up, do your best to focus on playing your piece(s) to the best of your ability. Remember, this is supposed to be fun.

easier said then done.

[rohansahai]

Dazzer, don't take this seriously, but :

that is an interesting concept...

though some poeple might see it like steroids for athletes.

shush stop increasing your post count.

-wink-

easier said then done.

like i said stop increasing your post count with silly comments like those.

Now I know, how you people reach such high post counts !! 

[nanabush]

Which Rachmaninoff is that?  I've heard it before but don't know opus number...

[Rach3]

Drink lots of coffee. It worked very well the last time I performed Bach with an orchestra. I prefer espresso.

[Dazzer]

Dazzer, don't take this seriously, but :Now I know, how you people reach such high post counts !! 

shh

Which Rachmaninoff is that? I've heard it before but don't know opus number...

Op39 No9. etudes-tableaux bk2

Drink lots of coffee. It worked very well the last time I performed Bach with an orchestra. I prefer espresso.

wouldn't that just make you hyper? too hyper in fact and it becomes counter-effective?

[robert]

my performance went really bad, but before i was playing it pretty well, i missed out about half a page on the agiatato bit which i knew off by heart. i place it soley down to nerves. (i played rechmaninoff) what can i do about nerves!?!

Many things have already been discussed but I might be able to help with a couple of easy "non-piano" tricks that at least works for me. Note that this will not remove your nervous feelings completely but reduce it to a reasonable level.

When the human body get nervous and build up stress, it tend to change the breathing so that the upper part of the lungs are used rather than the lower part. The most obvious sign is that your axles are lifted upwards a bit. This is very bad for blood circulation to the brain and also changes your positions to the keyboard.

The simple procedure you need to do is to try to breath with your stomage or at least make it feels like you do so. This will get your pulse down, your axles in a normal position and have the blood circulation go back to normal.

What I feel is the most tricky part is to actually discover when you begin to change your breathing but once you do, get it down in the stomage again.

A couple of other things that has to do with preparation is to not eat something with too much sugar or drink anything with sugar in. Also, don't drink coffee.
The reason is obvious. You already have so much adrenaline and stress that it will well compensate for the lack of sugar and coffein in your body.