How to Deal with Performance Nerves! A Guide for Mortals!
There are times in life when we hold our breath. And water has nothing to do with it. Did we say the right thing? Did we do the right thing? Our bodies are tense in anticipation. Everything hinges on the next moment, the next outcome. And it’s dumb because whether we worry or not, it won’t change the result. It just ruins the present. But we do it anyway, both as humans and as performers.
You may be wondering, what on earth does this have to do with performing? Well, when we are in our practice rooms, there are areas in our playing that we are anxious about. We hold our breath. We feel a rise in our stomach. We feel nervous. And we feel it right down to our bones. But here’s the kicker, so does the audience. During a performance, they may not be familiar with the music, partially deaf, and somewhat confused, but they’ll always know the mood of the performer. When we are nervous, they are nervous.
So how might we handle this dilemma? What can we do? Here are a few tools I have found that have proved quite useful.
Start in the practice room.
Let me ask you, can you be afraid of something if you see it every day? Probably not, right? Your practice sessions should be geared towards improving your baseline abilities. You must push your skills and address your blind spots as an artist. You are sharpening the ax before you cut down the tree. Practicing sessions are problem solving sessions. Remember that.
Consider the audience.
Believe it or not, they are there to cheer for you. They want to see you do well. They want to hear what you have to say. They are not some cold, sterile brigade of judgment. They just want to hear music.
Visualize.
There are studies that show visualizing practice activates the same parts of your brain when you play your instrument. So, if you have a passage that is a challenge to you, try visualizing where your fingers go, how it sounds, and how your body feels when you play it. Go slow. Imagine it being easy and fun. It should clear in the center of your mind. How do the fingers move? What’s the bowing? Did you breathe out at the start of the phrase? Really consider this daydream. Make it as specific as possible right down to the shoes you wear. Let there be no surprises.
So whaddya think? Are these tips you have heard before or were you surprised by something new? Let me know! To practice and to perform is such a wonderful gift. It is a high form of generosity for you and the audience. So work hard and enjoy it. You are given the space to express how you feel! So why not feel great? ;)
