How To Transform Stage Fright

Today’s write in comes from Sheila who has a concert bearing down on her this week. She emailed the following;

‘Right now, I would like some urgent advice. This coming Saturday, the second of December, we are going to have our end of term concert. I have practiced and know all my notes. In the class, I play well, though my bow goes a little faster. My teacher says my tuning is excellent. But now I have to face the audience.

Please, please give me some advice, how do I stay cool and calm? I know all eyes will be on me. At the last concert, I got so nervous my bow was absolutely out of control.’

Well, Sheila, you are going to have a little chat with your bow arm. Your’re going to tell it, in no uncertain terms, what you expect from it on Saturday. NO RUSHING AHEAD.

And just to make sure it behaves, you’re going to promise to count to yourself silently as you perform on Saturday. And you’re going to do a little extra practice this week while counting out loud. You do count as you practice, I presume.

When you arrive at the church for the performance, you will play through your piece slowly while counting and belly breathing.

As you walk out to perform you are going to see yourself beginning your piece, and counting as you play.

Then, you will put your fiddle to your chin and DO IT. Count, Visualize, and Breathe.

You will give Your performance. The audience will be present but they will have no impact on what You Do. I trust this is clear to you, Sheila.

Now that we all know what Sheila will be doing on Saturday we’ll expect a little report from her on Monday. In fact I’ll include it in the newsletter. Let’s all wish her well.

All the best,

Clayton Haslop

P.S. I also had a question about hearing loss due to violin playing. I am not aware of it causing hearing loss. There have been reports of orchestra members seated right in front of brass or loud percussion instruments having damaged hearing, however. So if you do a lot of orchestral playing and you sit in front our a 250 pound trombone player some hearing protection might be in order.