Performance anxiety - our WORST harp experiences!

[@LearningtheHarp]

How about you, do you relate to any of our stories about performance anxiety? 🙋‍♀👀 Tell us about it in the comments!

[@wadinglady]

I’m so overcome with performance and anxiety that I have not posted the KZbin video yet or recorded myself It is one of my goals

[@LearningtheHarp]

Aw, there’s no need to wait until you’re perfect! Maybe you can share a video with the title “Nervous harp player bravely shares a video of herself messing up from nerves” 😉 Gotta start somewhere! 💕

[@annabelbrown9628]

My worst experience was the first time I played at a wedding in the village church. I had practised like mad. I took Kalm pills before the service. Just before they were going to walk back down the aisle to me playing the Mendlessohn wedding march, I had an almost irresistible urge to stand up, turn round and say "I'm sorry I can't go through with this" !! I didn't! I played, and at one point it became an improvisation ... but I managed to find my way back to the dots and finished off playing what Mendlessohn wrote. It did put me off playing at weddings though!

[@MoveWithGeraldine]

My worst experience was that I actually stopped playing the harp for 10 years because performing felt like such a pressure in front of an audience! But two years ago I picked it back up, purchased a new pedal harp and I decided to just continue playing for myself and not feeling pressured. :)

[@MelissaLatimer]

My son and I playing in an ensemble for the first time ( most beginners) but we couldn't read music. Being on the spectrum we found our own language and memory to get through. Funny sitting there as teacher telling us all where to come in here and there using music lingo. We just looked at each other and had no idea, and just listened for cues. Interesting experience, as we thought it would be a good exercise for both of us in different ways. We are now trying to learn theory because we can't (me) remember everything. Great tips for the added anxiety that appears just at the wrong moments 😉

[@tiffanyharpandsong]

Such a fun video ladies! I also find the most grounding thing for me is to be okay with mistakes. Mistakes are only devastating when I require perfection of myself or else "everything is going to be awful!!" That's really the root of what makes me nervous - wanting everything to be perfect and I know deep down it can't - so much unneeded pressure we put on ourselves! Once I heard a musician say they envision themselves as the pizza delivery guy...the focus isn't them, it's the music. They're just the person serving it up. We love the music we play and want to share it with people, and that's really the point isn't it!

[@LearningtheHarp]

That’s such a great idea about the pizza delivery guy. So true! Thanks for watching and commenting 😄💕

[@StephanieClaussen]

I love this image of the pizza delivery guy!!

[@joanelizabethhall9455]

My hardest thing is after a performance which I didn't feel went all that well, but people come up to me to tell me how beautiful it was. I feel like a fraud! I've trained myself to smile and say: "I'm so glad you enjoyed it."

[@LearningtheHarp]

That’s a good thing to say! Important to resist the urge to say “oh no, it was terrible, I usually play much better than that!” 😂 I’ve definitely felt that before, Joan. People tend to hear all the good notes, whereas we sometime focus only on the mistakes. It’s a good thing to remind ourselves of! 💕

[@StephanieClaussen]

I had such a fun time chatting with you Christy-Lyn!!

[@LearningtheHarp]

Me too! 🤩 Such a fun conversation 💕

[@suetalley2508]

It is so VERY important to look pleasant because your face AND body relax when you smile. You both embody this pleasant expression beautifully!!

[@LearningtheHarp]

It does seem to help 😃👍🏻

[@tomiskind]

Interesting, good points, thanks! In my venues, requests for unrehearsed pieces and (since I am never isolated on a stage) people coming by and opening a conversation are common. Aside from that I make mistakes often and will smile or even laugh [with or without a head shake] (after all, way way more than half of the fun of making music is sharing it.). Most/many will not notice what feels like glaring errors but many will notice if I am not enjoying myself and that can be done even through difficulties. Thanks again for great share and keep smiling!

[@gwynethjones7323]

Good tips and I appreciate the normalization of being nervous during a performance.

[@LearningtheHarp]

Yes, it’s super normal 😅💕

[@kathilisi3019]

Great advice! I've only played my harp in public once, after I played to family and friends a few times. My hands were shaking like crazy and my heart rate was twice as fast as normal, but it still went rather well! I've played the violin in all sorts of settings and know how to control my hands and nerves while playing the violin, but the harp is a different story.

[@LearningtheHarp]

Quite strange how our performance anxiety is completely different with a newer instrument compared to one you’re used to playing. It’s like starting the journey over 😅 But the good thing is, once you’ve conquered it once, you know you can do it again! 🙌🏻

[@kathilisi3019]

@@LearningtheHarp Absolutely! Actually, I have to thank you for the opportunity of performing in a zoom meeting before I ever performed in public, because that was the first time I experienced shaking hands while playing harp, and I wouldn't have known what to watch out for if I hadn't experienced that!

[@LearningtheHarp]

Haha, I’m happy to make you nervous more often in Harp Grove zooms if you want some more help 😜

[@SharonCullenArt]

I agree. I play the flute and harp. The hardest thing there is controlling my breathing and embouchure when nervous. But shaking hands on strings or losing my place are my big fears with harp.

[@RubyNightingaleone]

Stephanie Claussen is an amazing teacher. I have been taking classes from her since 2021. Hi Stephanie!

[@StephanieClaussen]

Aww, thanks Ruby!!

[@LearningtheHarp]

❤️❤️

[@karenpivaral]

I loved this video! It feels good to be reminded that is okay to mistake and to feel nervous, that even the best go through that :) love for the two of you and everyone who performs 🖤

[@LearningtheHarp]

Totally! In my opinion, the aim of a performance is not to be flawless, but to share something beautiful and connect with people ❤️

[@RubyNightingaleone]

I have learned a lot from both of you this past year. Recently when I was playing Greensleeves online I hit the wrong note on the last note but it sounded okay to me so I left it that way.

[@StephanieClaussen]

I love that!

[@diasharp8670]

Thank you for this topic! I just started learning the harp this year at age 59, and I have anxiety even just playing in front of my teacher at the lesson. It was very good to hear the wise and comforting words of two amazing harpists❤️.

[@LearningtheHarp]

Aw, yes many people have that anxiety in front of the teacher too. Very common, not fun! But I’m sure your teacher understands ❤️ Keep going and I’m sure it’ll get easier!

[@celestinac1105]

Awwww Diana, that is sweet. I’m very much the same. It’s why I don’t do lessons..It freaks me out! That’s amazing you started learning at 59! How are you progressing, do you enjoy it?

[@StephanieClaussen]

I remember feeling that way in lessons too - even though I loved my teachers and they were so patient with me.

[@diasharp8670]

@@celestinac1105 Progressing slowly but surely, I guess😅. It’s quite an adventure!

[@diasharp8670]

@@StephanieClaussen Thank you, Stephanie, that makes me feel better!

[@pasimplybeing]

This was fun watching and a really worthwhile 17 minutes 21 seconds viewing. Thank you.

[@LearningtheHarp]

Hehe, that’s very precise! 😄 Thanks Pauline, glad you could be a part of our conversation in this way 💕🙌🏻

[@karissathatcher9206]

Haha, I can relate to similar arrogance, Christy-Lyn! I think it makes me oblivious/immune to negativity... :P But it definitely can be a strength as long as I remember that I am no better than anyone else and any skill I have is a gift from God. :) It's important to think of music as something you love as well as a gift to be shared.

[@inthedaysstillleft1257]

Thank you so much for sharing this important topic!

[@LearningtheHarp]

Such a pleasure, it was fun to chat about it! Sometimes people don’t realise how super-normal it is to feel nervous when performing, and even have quite severe symptoms of performance anxiety ❤️ We’re in this together!

[@lyndavonkanel8603]

My skill level is nowhere near either of yours, but friends, neighbors ask me to play for them. The first time I played for a few people I was so nervous. I couldn't play the pieces half as well as when I was alone. They loved it anyway. God bless them for being so gracious! That encouragement makes is easier to play for them again.

[@cackleberrycottage2340]

I am a mature student and struggle with anxiety and lack of confidence. Every time I venture out to play, I always think people are sitting there keeping track of my mistakes and are going to come up to me afterwards and point them out to me. They never have of course, but I can't get rid of that voice in my head that is sure they are judging me. On the other hand, my very first time out playing when I was very new, was at a home tour. I did not have a repertoire, so I was playing scales, arpeggios and some of my exercises. A lady came up to me and said I played so beautifully and did I have a CD available. That was pretty funny I thought. On the opposite of that I agreed to play a song at church with the organist and to play background music afterward at a potluck dinner we were having. While I was in the back of the church warming up and practicing my song, the priest came walking by and told me I should stick to playing scales. Well, that pretty much did me in for the whole evening. When it came time to go into the potluck and play, I had a full on panic attack. I was shaking all over, my heart was pounding so hard I thought everyone could hear it, my vision went blurry and I couldn't tell what the notes on my music were. They looked like black dots floating around the page. I couldn't make out which string was which. I had no idea what I played, but I remember it sounded horrible. Then when I finished, everyone applauded and I excused myself quickly and went to the car and cried. I still go out and play once a year at the home tour and I have had some positive things happen there. One young man was standing behind me watching me, which was making me nervous, but I played on and finished the song. He then came up to me and asked if I was playing all the notes on my music and I said, " yes of course I was." And he then replied, "Wow, you have some mad reading skills" and gave me a high five!!! LOL!!!! And at the last home tour I played at prior to the illness arriving, I was outside on a deck playing. The home had a large yard and people were gathering around listening to me. I stayed as calm as I could and when it was time for me to go, the man that was directing traffic and parking cars said he was glad I was leaving because my playing was causing traffic jams and parking problems. People were hanging around to listen to me play instead of leaving for the next home on the tour. I took that as a compliment. LOL!! I still don't like playing in public, but I realize it is the only way I will get over some of the nerves. It is very much like torture for me. Christy, I wish I had just a few ounces of your confidence. I would never in a million years think I am fabulous and that other people should think I am too. I will always think I am too old, too fat, not talented enough, not pretty enough or whatever. I have some arthritis in my hands and age spots. I always think my hands look weird. I struggle along and maybe someday I will get over all my issues. LOL!!!! I would prefer to play in the background where no one is noticing me and I can just fade away and neither me or my playing is noticed.

[@Humawayharp]

When we love what we do, then nothing else matters.🌺🌻🌿

[@LearningtheHarp]

Aw, some tough experiences there, I’m sorry you went through that! But it sounds like you are determined to keep sharing your music despite it all, which is really wonderful. When you remember those things people have said, or you get negative thoughts of what people might think, choose some positive truths to say back to yourself, maybe it will help! Like “people always love the harp”, or “my courage will inspire others to do hard things”, or whatever true statement encourages you! 💕

[@godsavethequeen457]

That was such a great video!! I love Stephanie Clausen so I was so excited to see you interviewed her! Thank you again! I think this discussion will help if I ever end up performing 😊

[@acolleenjones]

This was great! Even as a non-performer and beginner, I've been playing for friends on Zoom calls and made two progress videos that are on KZbin. I especially like where Christy-Lyn imagines making mistakes and carrying on. I had a singing gig where I blanked in the middle of a song, and I was so unprepared for it. The host was wonderful and helped me get through the moment. I had to pull out my sheet music, and the audience was sympathetic. The same thing had happened to me years earlier at my one and only piano recital, so I tend to panic about making mistakes. I'll try Christy-Lyn's technique to get less freaked out with mistakes and just keep playing!

[@darcysalmon7781]

I make mistakes when I am recording or performing harp or piano. But, I just keep going. For whatever reason, it is more difficult when I record. I think because I can stop and start over again. I also find that once I start a performance with harp, I get very comfortable. It feels like it is just me and the harp. Maybe because I am so close to the instrument. I am always so greatful for all the people that pleasantly enjoy my music... ❤

[@LearningtheHarp]

That’s lovely, sounds like you are on the right track. Keeping on playing, despite mistakes… so good! 💕

[@AngelaBoraston]

Such an honest and relatable video. Thank you so much for sharing! So helpful to hear your authentic experiences. I love how the harp community is able connect and support eachother around the world. Some very helpful tips here too.

[@milehighmolly3609]

This video is so apropos as I just did my first recital this past weekend. My hands were shaking so bad but I managed to get through it!! So embarrassing lol!!

[@annlicano3416]

You two are amazing...right on. Very helpful. I am always my worst enemy for criticism.

[@SharonCullenArt]

Stephanie told me about this video and I’ve been waiting with excitement for it! Yay! Stephanie is my teacher and I love her gentle approach to teaching. She will correct me and give me honest critiques but she also gave me the same advice she spoke of about being the same way with yourself as you would giving advice to another person. I tend to be hard on myself. And of course Christy-Lyn’s lessons in her courses are just as good. You two are terrific in my book!

[@LearningtheHarp]

Yes Stephanie is amazing! Thanks Sharon ☺️ Sending love! 💕

[@poohwol10]

Awesome video! So fun to see the two of you side by side! I have been playing harp for jut 3 months now & did my first “public” performance yesterday. (BFF’s mother’s funeral) It’s funny how my musicianship slides off the cracker when I make a mistake in front of an audience. 🤨. I have been a performer for 50+ years, but not on the harp & there were (unfortunately) more stops than just playing on happily. I know better, but…. However, the beautiful voice of my harp delivered peace & healing to everyone in the room! God is faithful…and I will improve! I probably need to worry less how I look & let the harp sing, eh? 🤭. Thank you, again, Stephanie, for your sacrifice of time to meet me/us for coffee & advise on the harp purchase back in December. You will never know how much that means to me! 🥰

[@annabelbrown9628]

This was all so helpful and so are many of the comments. I think you are very unusual in thinking people think you're awesome, Christy-Lyn, that's a really terrific gift! You must have had a lot of lovely affirmation as a child.

[@LearningtheHarp]

💕 Glad the video was helpful! ☺️ I don’t always feel like that in every part of my life, but it’s definitely helped with my harp playing 😁

[@everock9436]

I try to name my mistakes as a foray into improvisation, nobody has the music in front of them... this is why I prefer solo right now

[@LearningtheHarp]

That’s a good one! 😄👍🏻👍🏻

[@celestinac1105]

I’m exactly the same haha, I was playing amazing grace in public once, I got a brain freeze and forgot the next part so I just shifted into simple scales, no one noticed

[@wadinglady]

I’m a relative beginner and have the unmedicated nerve to try to play with trained harpists in an ensemble. Our last performance at the and February I focused solely on my music and not the audience and was more capable at my play and I even overcame my sense of inadequacy

[@LearningtheHarp]

Amazing, well done!! Maybe you have some of that gutsy spirit that I seem to have 😂 Keep going, that will get you far! 🙌🏻😄

[@annettekelly1592]

Hello again. I believe we were in a small group this morning on zoom. Good to see you again. I wanted to mention that I ”finally got” the 7th and 9th you mention. Had a theory blank out. Good suggestion!

[@sandragayle7866]

A few years back I was playing the harp in the music store in Los Angeles when a famous producer came in. He stopped and listened to me play. Afterwards he said that is so beautiful! So you want a job? I asked him what do you mean? He said I am working on a new movie and I would love for you to play the harp on it! I was so nervous I really did not know what to say. I was just playing in the mode scales. I could have hit the floor I did not expect this but hay it was real! And a chance for me to do what I always wanted to do. Sound tracks for motion pictures. You just never know. The harp is amazing! Not the easiest instrument to learn but well worth the effort.

[@LearningtheHarp]

Wow that’s an amazing story, Sandra! Must have been a major surprise! 😄🥳

[@sandragayle7866]

It was a surprise I didn't expect that. My daughter Said it best, being in the right place at the right time. It was so interesting to work in a studio 🎙 of that size 🤔 😳 that was exciting they had the harp already in the studio and to work with a producers who has every prestigious award there is was a blessing. Another good thing is that I am now apart of ASCAP and I am still In touch with this producer we became friends and he still call me whenever he need a harpist I get the job. I worked with several major studios since then. Including Warner Brothers, because of playing the harp in that music store that day God is good. 🤗🤗

[@MarionTomsett]

What wonderful suggestions !! Thank you !

[@shannonsharpstory]

A great video! EVERY PERFORMER goes through some kind of performance "jitters," even professionals! I liked Stephanie's idea of trying to recreate the performance environment. I used to give singing lessons to children. Some of them participated in a local "Idol"- type contest at our fair. To prepare them for all the distractions they would face, I truly was obnoxious and distracted them as much as I could as they sang their songs at the last rehearsal. Although it was not fun for them, they always did a great job at the fair. So these techniques help! 👍

[@lauriewesterman962]

Awesome discussion. We are all human! Most times the audience doesn’t even know you made a mistake!

[@LearningtheHarp]

Very true! 😄💕

[@annettekelly1592]

Hello again. I believe we were in a small group this morning. 😃😃

[@Lydia-La]

Some tips I got was: *Starting with (a) very easy tune(s), because mostly the nervousness goes away after playing a while. Or only play very easy tunes at all. *Putting the focus on bringing the harps beautiful sound to the listeners, not on your playing (which is far the most difficult advice for me being a big perfectionist). *Seeing mistakes as the basis for ornamentations (which maybe needs a more advanced way of playing). I suspect that some of the ornaments or variations of a piece developed naturally from mistakes. I have especially one piece which led me to this idea, because one variation really sounds as if it developed from a permanent mistake in the basic melody. *If you are not too advanced but already got some ideas and practice on improvisation, you even could spend some daily practice time on transforming your mistakes into variations or a kind of ornamentation. *Another way at a more informal occasion could be to first let others who’d love to letting try the instrument, instructing them playing on the white strings and talking a bit about harp topics. *Making a joke or telling a little story at the beginning. *Talking about the nervousness to the audience could also be an idea, but it can also lead to a too strong focus on the nervousness itself. But for some people it might work to let the audience know, because almost everyone knows this feeling, and won’t think bad of you, and that could reduce the pressure you set on yourself… *For me playing in the background was a good practice, because then the people would not be focused completely on my playing. *One time I also told the audience I’d rather play in the back of the listeners so they only can hear me and not see me. You even could explain then they would not be distracted from their listening experience. Organ players or even piano players have it far easier in that way, because they are mostly not facing the audience directly. *It could be the other way round, too. Take someone with a very strange and unknown intrument to join you playing, and only explain about this instrument after playing. Then the listeners will be distracted by the strange instrument and might not listen so intensely they’d have done otherwise, because the eyes are usually our strongest sense. We did that one time when we played with a nyckelharpa player some swedish tunes to an audience only used to irish music and instruments (we really all had stage fright beyond any measure because we knew the listeners had quite a big musical expertise at least in irish music, and we were quite beginners, being asked to join this benefit concert and wanted to give it a try despite our stage fright)

[@wadinglady]

I love this and have forwarded the link to friends of mine❤️❤️❤️

[@LearningtheHarp]

It’s great to spread the message that we’re not alone in experiencing these things… and it gets easier! 😅💕 Thanks for sharing!

[@annettekelly1592]

I always want the event earlier in the day! Evening does mean WAITING all day!!

[@LearningtheHarp]

True!! Although not too early please, I’m not a morning person 😂

[@StephanieClaussen]

I like to spend as much of the day as possible reading a really engrossing book, so I don't have as much time to think about getting nervous.

[@rondelby2482]

Sometimes at a different venue it feels ok, but some places I feel nervous. I do not know if I am picking up vibes or a person or persons that I might happen upon before the show. I have played good at some, but others I had the shakey hands and sweaty hands. I would cut corners on my playing when I had played it fancy at home but was afraid to try live. Most folks claim they never notice a bobble but I sure did One song everyone knows is "Her comes the Bride (The Wedding March) Its an easy tune but if the wedding is formal, it can be scary because everyone knows that whole song....Especially if you have stiffy people with the nose up in the air..lol

[@LearningtheHarp]

Yes it can unpredictable 😆 Thankfully perfection isn’t a measure of our value ❤️

[@rondelby2482]

I take St John's Wort natural herb before I play, and it soothes my anxiety. very much.

[@organist1982]

A really excellent video and such an important topic! I'm mainly a church organist/pianist and usually have a certain level of manageable stress when playing services, but when I'm called upon to play something especially difficult or I'm playing for a special program in which I'm more in the limelight than I usually am during services, I get more nervous. However, my biggest stressor tends to be when having to play in the presence of other professional musicians, particularly other professional organists/pianists who do what I do. I'm surprised neither of you touched on that in this video. Does your stress go way up when having to perform in front of other professional harpists?

[@LearningtheHarp]

I haven’t often had that experience, because there aren’t many harp players where I live, and when I went to America on a trip I was mostly playing for people who are learning harp 😄 But I guess that’s similar to where I was talking about recording your performance and putting it on KZbin - overthinking your harp technique etc because of harp players watching it afterwards 😆 That’s a good point!

[@StephanieClaussen]

I feel both more nervous and less nervous playing for professional harpists - I know they'll notice all my mistakes (where non-harpists probably wouldn't), but they understand how hard it is to play harp for other people!

[@organist1982]

@@LearningtheHarp I definitely know what you mean about being more stressed in recording situations!

[@organist1982]

@@StephanieClaussen Very interesting perspective, Stephanie! Organists aren't usually so forgiving of other organists!

[@StephanieClaussen]

@@organist1982 Oh dear - that really does sound scary then. (When I was studying at the university, the harps shared a practice room with the organ. I would enjoy _attempting_ to play organ from time to time and now have great respect for anyone who can actually play!)

[@annettekelly1592]

This is fantastic! And you are awesome!!

[@LearningtheHarp]

🥰❤️❤️❤️

[@carpenanne]

Really enjoyed this

[@LearningtheHarp]

Thanks Anne! 💕

[@MarionTomsett]

You are both awesome !

[@SuburbanFox]

First time I performed in a group... I only had one song, and I was fine up until it was time to do my bit, but as soon as my bit started my hands were literally shaking! I have no idea how I managed to get through the piece. :D Good to know I'm not the only one. I'm guessing it gets better the more you do it, though, as the second time wasn't as bad (although I did spend some time doing breathing exercises and "psyching myself up" before so maybe that helped).

[@loharchan]

😖I never do any performance but I do feel so nervous every time I record my full play. Last week I record my full play of over the rainbow outside the house and neighbors came to see my playing.. It was unexpected 😳😱and I end up playing over speeding 🤪

[@LearningtheHarp]

Yes the harp often attracts attention when you don’t expect it! Maybe it’s a good way to start you performing without even planning it 😉😆 You make such beautiful videos, with your lovely playing, Lohar! It would be so great for you to play for people, even if you get nervous ❤️ It’ll get easier!

[@loharchan]

@@LearningtheHarp My neighbors are happy to hear it and invited me to their backyard for video recording next time🤣they want me to play”louder” so they can hear it🙈They told me last time they heard harp playing was 37years ago in someone’s wedding 😳

[@francishetherton1837]

Very helpful thank you

[@LearningtheHarp]

Thanks for watching Francis! Glad it was helpful 😄💕

[@andrewchan1622]

I am feel very anxious play harp I feel very anxious when play with Teacher .

[@finnstoner1975]

i have a video of me playing in a school talent show and i played it almost perfectly in the dress rehearsal just a few hours before and i was so nervouse with a big crowd that in the video before i start i put my harp on my shoulder and then instead of started right away like i would normally i had to wipe my hands on my pants cause they were so sweaty

[@bettertomorrow2625]

I don't have my harp yet. It's on the way! But I play the hammered dulcimer and when nerves hit with that, it's BRUTAL. Because I'm holding two hammers, that shakes makes me hit the wrong strings. So embarrassing. The weird thing is I start off calm and it's going well, but as I get further through the song, the shakes get worse and worse. It's so weird.

[@LearningtheHarp]

Argh that sounds so stressful!! Hopefully harp will be easier for the nerves 😅

[@bettertomorrow2625]

@@LearningtheHarp I am hoping for that very thing. The hammers make those nerves SO MUCH MORE noticeable. With the harp, you're placing your fingers on the strings first (I've been listening closely to your advice on your videos) and that I think would help stabilize your hands, even if they're shaking. There's nothing to stabilize them with dulcimer hammers. They're just flapping about madly. I can play it pretty well, just not in front of an audience unfortunately. That was one of the reasons I wanted to try the harp. There are other reasons too, but that was definitely a factor.

[@mevmevmev]

Even a massive mistake can be better than a perfect performance if you can acknowledge it it a fun way and make it enjoyable for the audience. E.g. pause the song, pull out a towel, wipe the strings (as though dirt was the cause) then resume the song. The mistake will turn into a highlight of the show for the audience.

[@LearningtheHarp]

Haha, love that! 😄🎉

[@jangamjoyce9665]

Mam... .. Could you also teach lyre, davidic harps....? Pls tell.. I want to buy and learn for worship...I'm from India......

[@LearningtheHarp]

Hi! I don’t play the lyre, so you would have to learn that from someone else. But if you want to learn harp, you can also buy a small harp to get started 😊

[@jangamjoyce9665]

@@LearningtheHarp thank you so much

[@annettekelly1592]

One time early on, I played with a violinist. The first piece was me alone and her violin was in the stand to my right…. All I saw as I looked at my strings was the violin strings lined up with mine. 😳😳😳

[@LearningtheHarp]

Oh wow that sounds like a harp player’s nightmare! 😱😂

[@MelissaLatimer]

🙆How do you stop hands from shaking ? 🤷🙏

[@LearningtheHarp]

Aw, it’s so frustrating when your hands shake!! I’ve been there, not easy. There are a few approaches: - practice playing despite shaking hands, you could try doing some jumping jacks etc to get your adrenaline pumping and then trying playing your harp so you are able to play in that physical state - perform more often, informally and formally, so that your body is less likely to freak out. This has helped me to the point where my hands seldom shake. - If these two options don’t work, you can speak to your doctor about beta blockers which is a medicine which you can take before your performance and it calms your body. I’ve never tried this, but I know some people have found it helpful. All the best, hope that helps!! And remember that the audience is always on your side and they don’t mind mistakes 🤗💕

[@MelissaLatimer]

@@LearningtheHarp thankyou, much appreciated 🌼

[@lifeisbeautiful7824]

Ladies you both are beautiful and the audience won't mind your nervousness much...😀😀

[@LearningtheHarp]

Haha that’s sweet, thank-you! 😄💕

[@marysuemanning5036]

Sometimes your opinion of yourself isn't any of your business. Most people enjoy the sound.

[@LearningtheHarp]

Haha, that’s one way to put it! 😅