Need help with being Nervous...

[openup4christ]

I need help I play piano and trumpet when I have to play in front of people I get really nervous my mind goes blank and its like I cant read music. I freak out on trumpet and play random notes, and with piano I forget how to play the song. I need help bad... what do I do?

 

[peanutbutter12]

"Fear holds us and binds us and keeps us from growing. It kills a small piece of us each day. It holds us to what we know and keeps us from what is possible and it is our worst enemy. Fear doesn't announce itself; it's disguised, and it's subtle. It's choosing the safe course; most of us feel we have 'rational' reasons to avoid taking risks. The brave man is not the one without fear, but the one who does what he must despite being afraid. To succeed, you must be willing to risk total failure" - Raymond E. Feist

I live by these words. Even the bassist from GreenDay says that he gets nervous before going up on stage. It's the anticipation and excitment building up inside added with the fear that tells yourself "I hope they don't think I suck or make mistakes".

In my own experience, the first few times I was on stage, I was nervous. I worried about what people were going to think of my performance and worried I was going to screw up and make mistakes. The more you worry, the more mistakes you will make. But now it's more an excitment for me when I go on stage because I love being there. You need to become comfortable with what you're doing and you'll find that fear start to life the more you perform.

CJ

 

[jupiter2]

I'm a little late seeing this, but I thought it worth a reply.


I had the same basic problem. The only cure is to PERFORM again and again, making mistakes along the way and discovering that the world doesn't end, etc. So you hit a wrong note, so what? I've gone into wrong keys, played the wrong music against everyone else, forgotten what I was doing, gotten drenched in sweat in front of HUNDREDS, etc. For some of us, it's just the way it goes. After awhile, the event is still stressful (if it isn't, watch out!) but you become comfortable with the stress and can make use of it.

Keep in mind that some musicians never like playing live - they mature into session players only. You can only perform and see how you take to it to see if you fit into that category, as far as I know. Some become good live players only, and can't/won't do session work. The best is to try to be good at both - session work helps live playing, and live playing helps session work, once you understand the difference between the two.

So if it is of any help, you are in a lot of company.

 

[radioradio]

add your music to radioradio dot us and see what others think.

 

[bumblebee62331]

Ok. First off, having a certain degree of nerves is a good thing. They give you that extra push - that adreneline - to make you really play well. But you need to control your nerves, because if you let them take over you - you know what happens - you lose it, you play wrong notes, you forget, you panic.

You need to work on controlling your nerves. Play in front of friends and family before the "real" thing so you can work on controlling nerves. You might say you won't get nervous, but I've tried it and even just in front of my sister, I still panic sometimes.

If you are playing from memory, make sure you are 100% certain that you are confident enough and know your part enough. Then, trust your memory. Don't doubt it. Don't think to yourself "Is that where my fingers are supposed to go?" If you think too much about it, you will lose it, your memory will slip etc. Just listen to the music and allow your fingers to do their thing. You know it.

If you do make a little mistake, don't let it ruin the rest of the concert. Acknowledge that you made a mistake and move on. If you dwell on a slip-up, you will lose concentration and make another mistake...and another...and another, until you completely panick and throw it all away. (Can you tell I've had issues with memory and nerves?? )

My final piece of advice is this: As conceited as this may sound, go out there to show off how good you are. This is your chance to show everyone in the audience how well you can play and how good you are at what you do. You might not be up-yourself in real life, or really believe that you are awesome, but if you go on stage feeling that way, your confidence will shine through your performance and your behaviour. You will be more confident and less nervous. You will perform better because instead of hoping that you play everything right, you know you will so you don't worry about that - you only think about the good things, the good bits.

Positivity. That's the key.

I hope this helped a little! If you want any more help, feel free to PM me. I'm still trying to overcome nerves - for uni I'm supposed to play by memory but so far all I've managed to do is play one piece by memory out of about three or four.

 

[shinbits]

Just imagine yourself naked. Cuz then it can't get any worse.

 

[bumblebee62331]

Just imagine yourself naked. Cuz then it can't get any worse.

I've never understood that advice. If I went out in front of 1000 people and pictured them all naked, and myself naked, I would scream, run and cry. Probably throw up too.

 

[shinbits]

I've never understood that advice. If I went out in front of 1000 people and pictured them all naked, and myself naked, I would scream, run and cry. Probably throw up too.

no..........

Imagine yourself naked. Being naked in front of hundreds of strangers is the worst possible scenerio. Imagining something worse than what you're already doing sometimes helps.

 

[bumblebee62331]

no..........

Imagine yourself naked. Being naked in front of hundreds of strangers is the worst possible scenerio. Imagining something worse than what you're already doing sometimes helps.

Ok, but still, picturing myself naked, I would freak out and it wouldn't help one bit. I'd rather go out there, knowing I'm clothed, and feeling confident.

 

[shinbits]

Pretend your Visa Check Card was stolen......

 

[bumblebee62331]

Pretend your Visa Check Card was stolen......

I don't have a Visa Check Card. (Do you mean like a credit card?)

I don't understand how that would make someone feel less nervous.

EDIT: my sekzi boyfriend was 'ere 2005 but is gone to watch cricket, hehehee give me more beer!

 

[jochanaan]

I have never had a serious nerve problem, but I read in my college conducting textbook that a surefire way to "get over it" is to tell yourself, "Well, I guess I'm just not up to this gig. I'd better call so-and-so and see if he can take it." They say it works every time!

What works best for me, the few times I've gotten nervous, is, once I'm out and playing, simply to focus on the music. This note at this instant; this run exactly here; this phrase in tune with the flute, this with the clarinet; and so on. It's like what I've read about being in battles--no time for fear or nerves when every muscle and brain cell is going at full throttle just to keep you from making that little mistake that might result in your meeting your Maker before He intends. No time for nerves when there are so many things going on!

 

[koolist]

I'm a little late seeing this, but I thought it worth a reply.


I had the same basic problem. The only cure is to PERFORM again and again, making mistakes along the way and discovering that the world doesn't end, etc. So you hit a wrong note, so what? I've gone into wrong keys, played the wrong music against everyone else, forgotten what I was doing, gotten drenched in sweat in front of HUNDREDS, etc. For some of us, it's just the way it goes. After awhile, the event is still stressful (if it isn't, watch out!) but you become comfortable with the stress and can make use of it.

Keep in mind that some musicians never like playing live - they mature into session players only. You can only perform and see how you take to it to see if you fit into that category, as far as I know. Some become good live players only, and can't/won't do session work. The best is to try to be good at both - session work helps live playing, and live playing helps session work, once you understand the difference between the two.

So if it is of any help, you are in a lot of company.

I'm slowly working on this one myself however I have now got to the stage where I'm beginnng to be able to jam with people. This then creates a whole new world or possibilities and I sometimes just go off into my own little world playing whatever I like and erm it has eneded up in a rather big mess before!!!

I'm getting used to it and I'm finding that pryaing just before I go on stage helps greatly. It gives me peace for my fear and relaxes me. I play alot better when I do as well!!

God bless

Koolist

 

[jochanaan]

I'm slowly working on this one myself however I have now got to the stage where I'm beginnng to be able to jam with people. This then creates a whole new world or possibilities and I sometimes just go off into my own little world playing whatever I like and erm it has eneded up in a rather big mess before!!!

Yeah, that can happen. I've been doing a fair amount of jamming the last few months. The secret to doing a good jam is to listen and respond. It's like a conversation; another player says something and you reply; you get an idea and play it, then others respond--that sort of thing. When things are hot, there's nothing like it! Certainly not in classical music with its slavery to the written notes--not a bad thing at all, but not the same as getting down in a hot jam. And like I said earlier, when you're in the middle of it, you're doing so many things at once you can't spare the time or energy to be nervous!

 

[TealTuesday]

even the most secure musicians STILL get nervous. does it get better once you're actually into it? I make it a habit to do a little meditation before I play. I try to create a vision of myself,then it plays out in my head. If you didn't have some sort of nerves then I'd say you're too sure of yourself,that can be almost detremental. Mick Jagger gets nervous,ok?