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Finchley & Barnet piano tutor's tips for dealing with music performance nerves ATCL, Dip ABRSM, DipLCM



-Single out one area of your playing that is the top priority among things to remember.
Think about this not when you are performing, but before you go on stage. Some people, for instance, may wish to focus on posture. Some might need to play with less pressure, while others may need a reminder to play more boldly. The issues to consider will all be specific to the individual and they may change over time, depending on what is top priority at the moment. When highlighting areas to improve, be careful not to overload yourself with more work and pressure.

-Enjoy performing
Yes, easier said than done I know, but don't forget that your performance is the time when you can finally share with your listeners what you have worked so hard in the practice room to achieve. This is a time for celebrating yourself and not for correcting errors or other faults. Don't be too self-critical in performance (leave that for practice time). When performing, you should let your emotions for the music show through. Don't allow minor details to obscure your feelings about the music. Let your excitement, the adrenaline and your passion for the music come through.

-Video/Audio Tape
Now comes the RIGHT time to be critical but in a positive, constructive way.
Video- or audiotape practice sessions, reviewing the tape, critiquing the performance. This is where, you want to be looking at everything, from mannerisms, how you smile and other body language, role-playing how to acknowledge the audience to imagining them there in front of you as you start playing your instrument while being recorded. It is important to develop a strong vision of yourself already in the environment.
While viewing the videotape, you could also identify places in the music where tension is present. To help the feeling of being threatened by the critique, listen or view the tape as an outsider observing a colleague's performance.

-Learn from the experts
One of the best ways to solidify your performance is to watch famous musicians/pop stars that you like/admire. See if there are any positive traits that you could model and incorporate into your own performance. Also, by reading about them, their biographies, the sacrifices they made and their approach to preparation for a performance and the actual performance itself, you can get an insight into their mindset and even adopt that as your own if you feel it best serves your purposes. There have been many great performers who were in the same position as you when they were starting out in their career, feeling like they were ready to throw up before their first major concert! Yet, the reason they have achieved greatness was because they did not let fear overwhelm them. They recognised they had a duty to entertain the audience. When performing, you should focus on that too.

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