Performance Anxiety - How Musicians Can Handle This - Part One

Michelle Anderson, founder of Clarinet Mentors (www.learnclarinetnow.com) presents a mini-lesson on four technics to perform better if nerves and anxiety are a challenge to performing well. This video is in two parts. View Part Two at: • Performance Anxiety - ... . Performance anxiety can be tamed with a variety of technics that you can try at home.

[@julicyborg]

Thank you so much for these tips. I just played the last performance of my college career and was extremely anxious leading up to it, scared to death that my anxiety and shaking hands would be apparent to everyone. I am so comforted to know that this is truly a common experience amongst musicians, and I found it incredibly helpful to focus on accepting and performing WITH the anxiety and jitters rather than trying to shut them off. I was able to relieve some of the pressure I was putting on myself and the performance went great.

[@voiseaumusic]

@Michelle Thank you so much for this video and for sharing it and helping so many people. I've dealt with severe performance anxiety my whole life and even gave up my passion for music for ten years because the steps to overcome it were just so debilitating. I have only now just started to sing again and I am using my journey in confronting fear to also help others as much as I can. I find it extremely useful to ground myself in the present moment, to take a deep breath as you mention, and actually take the time to be AWARE of the fear in my body as I feel it. Trying to trick my mind or pretend it’s not there doesn't work at all. Taking the very conscious decision at the moment I feel most afraid to recognise the fear in body strangely enough separates me from it (as if I am watching someone else) and in so doing releases some of its grip on me. It also helps to ground and stabilise you when you accept the fear is there, and also know that it will pass. Thinking thoughts of least resistance is also a huge help and being focused on the action of what you are about to do and not on the outcome has been a very helpful change in mindset 💙

[@AnnetteHollander]

I really like what you had to say. What is screwing me up is panicking the day before, not being able to sleep and getting major stomach aches. I usually take a sleeping pill. The side effects the next day are not exactly to my liking. It's such an annoying trait, I know my music inside out, but I can't seem to change myself. I'm not a clarinet player, I'm a singer but I don't think that has anything to do with it.

[@sessionsunderthesun3042]

Hi, @AnnetteHollander. Appreciative to connect with you in this community. 🙂 I’ve been a musician for over 15 years now and still experience stage performance anxiety symptoms. As a recent doctoral graduate, I wanted to dive into personal research as I connect with others who experience similar anxieties whether on stage, speaking and presenting in general. Would you be open to sharing some of your valuable insights with me? Just Looking for those willing to help with my research! Grateful to find a community here! 😊

[@Duncanmn]

When I was in high school, I sung in the choir. In the beginning, I would get really nervous before concerts, but I eventually realised a few things. First of all, I didn't know most of the people in the audience (1% or less were people I knew or cared about, and let's face it, Mom and Dad weren't going to be anything but supportive of me if I messed up.) Secondly, I knew that most of these people really didn't know much about music anyway, and wouldn't notice the little mistakes that I would.

[@marilynturnbull6532]

Hi Michelle I really resonated with your 3rd tip (going to fast). I had a violin recital last night and I bombed. I had been practicing everyday, for 6 weeks, for one hour and really played the piece well. There were some challenging areas, but I was comfortable with a couple of mistakes. Anyhow, my problem started at the very beginning when I started my first note, I played it too fast. I played so fast that I got all mixed up, started making mistakes and could not recover. It got so bad that I stopped and asked if we could start again. I had a piano (my teacher) accompanying me. So we started again, and again I was playing fast and forgot to do the repeat, and make mistakes all the way through, with stopping a few times along the way. However, I didn't stop and carried on all the way through to the end. This was my first time performing in front of anyone, and I had my mom, nephew and good friend there to watch. I felt very disappointed in myself, bad for my family, to have wasted their time, and bad for my teacher and the audience to have them watch such a train wreck. I think your tip will really help me in the future. I am going to try all 4 tips. I did do the visualization prior to performing, but it didn't help me. I could always see myself flubbing up. Anyhow, I am slowly getting over it, and trying to see it as an experience and learn from it. It is hard to believe that after doing everything right, practicing, visualizing, eating right, no alcohol for 6 months, rested, etc. and this happens. I know I need to play in front of people regularly to get more experience playing in front of others. If you have any advice, suggestions or anything to tell me, I am very open to hearing it. Thank you again for your video, I feel like you understand this situation I went through. Marilyn

[@ClarinetMentors]

Hi Marilyn, I (and probably most experienced players), totally get what you are going through. It is very frustrating. If there is any plus, it is that you are truly the person who is most aware of the errors, and they are likely magnified in your own mind. It may be that your audience still generally really enjoyed it, even if it was obvious that you had some trouble and a restart. For me, (as a nervous speedster), deliberately going slowly really helps. It usually isn't actually slow, but it keeps me from going disasterously fast. A good accompanist will follow you, whatever speed you pick. However, you can ask them in advance to help slow you down if they notice that you are racing ahead. They can help. I think the visualization helps if you just imagine your best performance as you know it (not suddenly better than you've ever played). Imagine that as realistically as possible. Then imagine that good result even if you are sweating and nervous. I also think the most effective for me was playing after jumping jacks - heart racing and all. I hope some of this helps. You likely won't stop feeling nervous, but you can at least learn to manage the things that go along with nervousness that can derail a performance. It will get easier to manage! Hang in there...

[@larrytrejo1882]

It's ok to mess up don't focus on being nervous focus on the peice and enjoy playing music it's your gift play with your heart and when you do it touches people and that is why we play music it's a connection with your instrument and you. You can Express everything you feel. Don't be or try not to be nervous. The highest complement someone can give you is you touched them in their soul. Keep practicing it's also about practice practice practice. Enjoy practicing it's fun. I hope this helps I make mistakes all the time half the time people don't notice any way.

[@raymbar]

as a flute player who gets nervous easily, this was incredibly helpful :)

[@lisaerhard6343]

Great tips! Thank you!

[@Nigelzenig]

Great, really well done. Have to try these.

[@TheMarktownsend]

Playing Rossini Introduction Theme and Variations for my Entire Music Department in a couple days. Glad I found this video! Im ususally not one to get super nervous but this piece is really hard for me.

[@ClarinetMentors]

Mark Townsend That piece is challenging for anyone, however, my guess is that you have practised enough that you are ready for a good performance. I do believe these tips really help us to play well even while we feel nervous. Good luck with your performance (and more importantly, good preparations)

[@TheMarktownsend]

+Clarinet Mentors (Michelle Anderson) My performance way back then went just fine! I'm back at this video again because tomorrow night I'll be playing with my schools orchestra as a concerto competition winner. I've never played on a stage this big or with an orchestra or for as many people at one time as I will tomorrow night. I know I'm gonna be nervous, but I'm also very excited!

[@ziggysway]

I can relate to these techniques and forgot about using them. I used envision before like athletes but not the simulated one which make sense too. I will share this video to my school Dallas school of music. My teacher said you are spot on with the staccato for clarinet. Thanks for the lesson. I subscribed too.

[@Duncanmn]

I know it sounds weird, but I eventually stopped caring. Caring meant stress, and stress meant poor performance. Our music teacher would just tell us to go out there and do our best, and that it didn't matter if we messed up. I didn't know these people, and I knew it didn't matter in the end, so I didn't focus on the audience so much. Sure I was a little nervous getting up on the stage, but after a few years of concerts every few months, it wasn't a very big deal anymore.

[@jzhao56jc]

Thank God I came across this video. Have this important band competition coming up, and I'm playing a solo part...when I'm nervous my hands get sweaty and would also be out of breathe, making me squeak in my playing sometimes.. Gonna start trying these technique to overcome my anxiety..

[@ClarinetMentors]

Jerome Chow I hope these help you. They have worked very well for me. I know of people who have practised with wet hands, so that they emulate how it might feel when they are sweaty and nervous. The more you can simulate your nervous state, the more you get used to playing well anyway when your body is reacting. Best of luck!

[@twillbanks]

Thank you for this.

[@markgcarroll]

Fab video, as I've been worrying about this for some time. Thanks for taking the time to put it together :)

[@ClarinetMentors]

Thanks for the kind comment, Mark. Some of these things made a big difference for me personally.

[@nononopeee8219]

Whenever I stand up infront of an audience my heart starts racing rapidly and my hands and knees are also shaking violently and then I start feeling extremely faint and about to pass out

[@ClarinetMentors]

This is SOOOO common. I do recommend that you try some of these technics. At the very least, you should get accustomed to playing when your heart is racing so that it doesn't throw you off as much under pressure.

[@sessionsunderthesun3042]

Hi, @nononopeee8219. Appreciative to connect with you in this community. 🙂 I’ve been a musician for over 15 years now and still experience stage performance anxiety symptoms. As a recent doctoral graduate, I wanted to dive into personal research as I connect with others who experience similar anxieties whether on stage, speaking and presenting in general. Would you be open to sharing some of your valuable insights with me? Just Looking for those willing to help with my research! Grateful to find a community here! 😊

[@clivecorner]

Thanks really nice of you to put this video up : -)

[@JohnKostohryz]

Well done!

[@JoaquinCorreaDrums]

'flippity floppity doo' lol

[@ClareBoggs1]

thank you for these two videos on performance anxiety. I can't wait to try these tips. I have a performance coming up late in June, so I will have time to work on these beforehand. I am especially interested in trying the "out of breath" exercise, since breathing seems to be a real problem for me in my performances. thanks again - you are a super teacher!

[@sessionsunderthesun3042]

Hi, @ClareBoggs1. Appreciative to connect with you in this community. 🙂 I’ve been a musician for over 15 years now and still experience stage performance anxiety symptoms. As a recent doctoral graduate, I wanted to dive into personal research as I connect with others who experience similar anxieties whether on stage, speaking and presenting in general. Would you be open to sharing some of your valuable insights with me? Just Looking for those willing to help with my research! Grateful to find a community here! 😊

[@gregmundwell8113]

To cure panic attacks completely, you need to understand what cause it, solutions to cure it as well as exactly what worsen it.

[@vasumatilapre337]

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[@gregmundwell8113]

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[@SilverTLyneng]

Hi Thank you.!!!

[@Alexkiplivelight]

Amazing ! Thanks!

[@ClarinetMentors]

Live Light I hope is useful to you. I've seen these technics work with many different people.

[@Bluecloudxxx]

So here's the thing about me. Every time when I have a piano exam , I become really anxious. My fingers would be shaking. My mind cannot focus . When I play it alone at home I was fine with it. How can I stop being less nervous when I go into the exam ?

[@Bluecloudxxx]

+Kompo Nist nice advice ! I guess I should try that and see how it goes! Maybe it will really help me! Thank you!

[@pae913]

The first time I ever had a solo, it was completely on accident because there were only two clarinets and the other clarinet player's clarinet broke just before the soli, what helped me the most was that I couldn't see the audience Also, with number 2, how would you simulate shaking? That's affected me in two auditions at this point and it nearly cost me a spot in district band

[@ClarinetMentors]

I've had students actually add a tremor to their hand consciously (which is different from it happening by accident). It still gets you used to playing when your fingers are not doing what they usually do. I've also had a very dedicated student who took this advice to extreme measure. (I can't say I necessarily recommend this to everyone, but he created these ideas on his own initiative and ending up winning a very competitive event after doing so.) He drank a major espresso, which got him on a wired caffeine buzz, and played his piece. (Again, I am not advocating this, and I told him I wasn't sure that was the healthiest interpretation of this practise.) He also put his hands in ice water for 30 seconds and tried to play. They were a bit sluggish. I guess you can be creative! The main thing is to put yourself into a variety of different circumstances, and know that you can play even if your body feels strange.

[@Eliaflute]

Clarinet Mentors (Michelle Anderson) Ahhaha very creative!!

[@stacyjarvis4725]

i have an audition tomorrow and i cant even play my instrument right now because i'm just crying and rocking back and forth, i am sooooo nervous because really want to make the marching band

[@ClarinetMentors]

Stacy Jarvis It can be really nerve-wracking! Remember - the people listening really want you to do well. If I were you, I would try imagining that over and over, and imagine yourself playing your best, in spite of feeling nervous.

[@stacyjarvis4725]

thank you i appreciate it

[@nome.archvis]

what I used to do, I try to fool myself thinking like I was the worst piece of trash anyone would ever listen to.. I'd even do mistakes intentionally, play sloppy at first. That way, my brain would kinda think, that I do not have anything left to lose so I just have to play how I used to play. Works you know haha

[@ClarinetMentors]

Interesting…I can see how that can take pressure away. However, I do think there is part of our brain that cannot distinguish between our real performances and those imaginary ones. I think another technic that might also work well for you is to imagine that everything is going as well as you can. After a few imaginary, really good performances, it is easier to believe that we can do it again (when the audience is actually there).