Performance nerves!

[Peter]

I can remember even as a small child of about 5 being terrified at the prospect of having to read out loud to the class - I don't recall doing it so I must have found ways to avoid it! Since then, having performed publicly many times I can empathize with this article, though I've never resorted to some of the methods suggested!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/m...rk-secret.html

[Albert Gans]

And I'm seeing Steve Osborne in February next year:

https://www.desingel.be/nl/programma...Steven-Osborne

Let's hope he's ok !

[Sorrano]

That is something that I can appreciate. One of the last few times I played in public (solo) my mind went completely blank toward the end of a Rachmaninoff prelude. Such as it was I was unable to finish and simply stood up and said that I could not remember the rest. Something that helped in terms of appearing with a choir is that I had some very serious medical issues some years back and when I returned from that I realized that I was much happier playing in front of people than being where I had been. Perhaps a perspective reflection might be helpful to some. It was to me.

[Michael]

I can remember even as a small child of about 5 being terrified at the prospect of having to read out loud to the class - I don't recall doing it so I must have found ways to avoid it!

I remember developing that very problem around about my 12th or 13th year. My voice would literally shake if I had to read out anything in the classroom. I never really got over it but in my late twenties I joined a local drama group and have since taken part in over thirty plays - most of them leading parts - all performed without a quiver.

However, when I was asked to do a reading at a funeral, the old phobia came back and I agonised over those two or three lines. Strange! I also flatly refuse to introduce or make any speeches at the end of a play. Maybe it's because, when I am performing, I'm not Michael F and someone else takes over.

[Megan]

Well oddly enough, for me I wasn't so much nervous having to read or recite something at church, The wives fellowship also used to put on short sketches. I didn't mind that because it was a group thing and it was fun. I even remember being fine at reciting a poem in front of the class when I was very young.
The only thing I never overcame was quaking with anxiety having to go for a job interview and I'm sure it showed, my mouth used to get so dry. I'm glad I don't have to attend dreaded interviews anymore.

[Chris]

I never had a problem with speaking in public, but I would get very nervous when performing music in front of people. It has taken a lot of playing in front of people to learn to get past that. It's really a shame that professionals turn to drugs to deal with this. It's not worth all that!

[Peter]

That is something that I can appreciate. One of the last few times I played in public (solo) my mind went completely blank toward the end of a Rachmaninoff prelude. Such as it was I was unable to finish and simply stood up and said that I could not remember the rest. Something that helped in terms of appearing with a choir is that I had some very serious medical issues some years back and when I returned from that I realized that I was much happier playing in front of people than being where I had been. Perhaps a perspective reflection might be helpful to some. It was to me.

I agree Sorrano, I use perspective as well. Imagining something really awful that has happened or might happen and performing suddenly doesn't seem so bad after all - it's all in the mind! Another mind trick is to imagine you're playing to just one person and forget about the rest.