Performance Anxiety Mark Zauss, Trumpet player, Double Board Certified Psychotherapist

Performance anxiety for trumpet players is a topic often overlooked. This video gives a basic explanation and introduction to some of the reasons why we may have anxiety. The next video will cover what we can do to be less anxious and include tools to reduce anxiety.
Mark Zauss
markzauss.net

[@collettdave]

Thank you as always Mark! My anxiety can be crippling! What happens is I'm afraid of being afraid! It's really controlled the outcome of what I'd hoped to become as a young trumpet player. Now I'm going to be 61 and want to enjoy playing again and for me I think the safest way to start is with the play along videos on KZbin and hopefully get some satisfaction from that. Thank you again Mark🙏

[@petewilliams4965]

Thanks Mark!

[@deonejohnson7351]

Welcome back! You are the best 🎺

[@MarkZauss]

Thank you! 😃

[@davidharrison3074]

First of all, it's great to see you again Mark. Hope all is well. Thank you for all these encouraging words and explanations. With my stroke history, I dealt with some of this style of anxiety before playing due to some of the damage from my first stroke. I've learned to actually rebuild and reroute neurolocal signals which has helped. That's why I appreciate this first video you have posted in a long time to be on this topic. Thank you again and I look forward to the next one. 🎺👍🏻🎺

[@MarkZauss]

Thank you David, I'm glad to hear you were able to rebuild your neuro pathways and Neuroplasticity would be a great topic for a video. Any of us could have a stroke and your recovery is an inspiration.

[@davidharrison3074]

@@MarkZauss Thank You Mark. Yes, building new pathways is possible with hard work. It took a year and a half like I mentioned to you in an email a while back. I never give up of course and I always found, if one direction didn't work, I tried another. Always and always, you can't quit. Learning different techniques to create new routes is not shameful. Detours are always an option in our life and with our health. Of course as you know, everyone is different as every health issue is different. My stroke is not like someone elses, etc, but we must learn to not give up. Thank you for everything you do and as always I look forward to seeing more from you. 🎺🎺👍🏻

[@MarkZauss]

Thank you David. Your continuing effort and progress is motivating and an inspiration.

[@chipmonkey7266]

Literally performing at MMC tomorrow! This is clutch, thanks!

[@furcifer8218]

I find my general "anxiety" has gotten worse as I age - not better. I used to thrive on stress - "hitting in the clutch" was my thing when I was younger. In recent years, I have begun to suffer anxiety attacks for no good reason, except that sometimes a visceral emotional response to negative inputs can certainly trigger and prolong an episode. I now take natural supplements to try to help control it, in part by just feeling healthier in general. But "performance anxiety", specifically, has become more acute with more rapid onset, as well. It's been difficult these last two years to get enough gigs to "stay in the zone", which still seems to be the only sure-fire coping mechanism. Having so much time off between gigs just makes me feel depressed and lethargic, so I lose motivation to practice and feel like I can't do enough "chop maintenance" on my own for the kind of physically challenging playing I'm called upon to do as a Lead Trumpet player and/or soloist. It just seems to never be enough, anyway, and then I feel guilt on top of that. Worst of all is when I'm finally back on the gig, my arms and embouchure will suddenly feel like wet noodles - like there's no strength at all. I mean, it's there, but I have to tell myself it's still there because it suddenly feels like it isn't. The shaking is bad enough, but the feeling of weakness is most awful. Then it also makes me much more susceptible to passing out after an extended high note, which starts to get dangerous. I'm often standing on a stage riser, and having a sufficiently well-padded trombone player to fall on is not something I can always count on.

[@MarkZauss]

Hello, I am sorry to hear you are going through this. I will be working on another video about some if these issues hopefully this week. Please feel free to email mail to set up an appointment. [e-mail]

[@collinrauser4079]

I have choked on every solo during grading in my life

[@spyguy1623]

You’re awesome man.

[@MarkZauss]

I appreciate that!

[@Kurtdog63]

Here is a good example of the effects of anxiety. While singing , forgetting the words to a song.... you wrote yourself...

[@MarkZauss]

I hear you. I forgot the bridge of the National Anthem while playing at a Polo March with Price Charles attending. Anxiety!

[@Kurtdog63]

@@MarkZauss Not to "brag" but I was in charge of a change of command ceremony and I was the Color Guard Captain. We present the Colors (American Flag) while the National Anthem is played, then post the flags in their bases. We marched up, posted the flags and marched off. I totally skipped the playing of the National Anthem... everybody occasionally needs a slice of humble pie...

[@MarkZauss]

Yes, we all have our slices of humble pie. Thanks for sharing that!

[@unknownquantity4440]

I think that's how jazz scat singing came about.

[@golfprochen]

Lack of confidence.