Control Your Nerves for a GREAT Clarinet Performance!

[@TIMTalksCooking]

OK, I just played my first recital (today at Sinclair!) and I feel good about it! Besides my teacher at Sinclair, I definitely have you and the advice in this video to thank. What helped me the most was playing in front of as many people as I could in the 10 days or so before my performance. I felt like an idiot doing it and, in most of these run-throughs, I sweated, fumbled, apologized, started over a couple of times, had a terrible time fighting off intrusive thoughts as I played, and even practically hyperventilated on more than one occasions, but I did really NAIL it a couple of times. At this performance, my first in well over 40 years, I, to my great surprise, was fine. I didn't even break out in a sweat and managed to play through a little squeek or two and at least one flub without missing a beat. Anyway, thank you SO MUCH, Mr. Kurokawa!

[@TIMTalksCooking]

I'm be playing my first recital in ages soon. These are very helpful tips!

[@smarams]

Thanks!!! Great opportunity

[@alvarolopez7346]

Thanks John. Very good advice !

[@john.kurokawa]

Thank you!!! Thanks for watching!

[@RemunJ66]

My teacher advised me not to take up boxing, but now that I see you do the moves I feel like putting on my gloves again. 😉 Thanks a lot for this upload. 👌😌🎶

[@john.kurokawa]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching!

[@RemunJ66]

@@john.kurokawa I remember all too well the nerves that ran through my throat before a performance. Fortunately, I usually mastered them, but your tips would certainly have helped me at the time.

[@oscah_whisky]

I only get nervous if I know I'm not prepared. Other than that, I'm there to ham it up!!!

[@brittlanders351]

Extrovert

[@oscah_whisky]

@@brittlanders351 I'm not an extravert. I'm an ambivert through and through... Which comes with its own unique set of problems, lol.

[@amaypant]

I have an audition and a recording next week, and this was so encouraging! Thank you so much for making this video!

[@john.kurokawa]

I'm so glad! Best of luck on your recording and audition; thanks for watching!

[@amaypant]

@@john.kurokawa Thank you! You're the best 🙌

[@amaypant]

​@@john.kurokawaThank you! They both went well. The most helpful advice from here was "Practice the way you're going to perform". I found that this greatly improved my reed choices, and it was very apparent in my practice recording. :)

[@wesleyc.4937]

⚕ Pack a small first aid kit with aspirin and a few band aids.

[@coronavirus186]

I ran into your account yesterday. It's crazy how informational and helpful you have been in changing my perception of what I thought was normal in clarinet playing. Thank you for spreading your knowledge and teaching such vital concepts that often go misunderstood🫡

[@john.kurokawa]

Welcome aboard! Thanks for the kind words and for watching!