Klarinet Archive - Posting 000260.txt from 1999/12

From: James Leonard Hobby <jhobby@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] Re: Stage fright
Date: Thu, 9 Dec 1999 20:16:24 -0500

This is really excellent. I went through juvenile stage fright and
processed it much as Ed did, but don't think I ever expressed it as
eloquently as he has.

As the years (and years and years <g>) have worn on, I think the only time
for one to have real stage fright is when you're not prepared. If you know
your horn and you know your piece, you should be ready to step out there
and give the gift of music, well-performed, to your audience. They did
come to see/hear you, after all, so you've got the head start on the game.
(I think I began to get away from the fright when I won the post of student
conductor of the high school band my junior year. Not only are you out
front, you're six inches higher than anyone else. <g>)

Having said that, I know there are people who suffer from almost
immobilizng stage fright. When I was at university, our best tenor could
not be pushed onto the stage w/o a 12 oz tumbler of vodka. Had it not been
for that glass of vodka, we wouldn't have had an opera for two years. <g>
I think *most* people can beat it, though, by simply saying, "I'm going to
beat it," and then doing it. All-in-all, it makes performing a much more
pleasant experience. <g>

Jim Hobby

=====================

>Ed Lacy wrote:
>When I was in high school and the early years of college, I was rather
>strongly affected by stage fright, more properly referred to as "musical
>performance anxiety." I say to my students, only half jokingly, "I used
>to be affected by stage fright, but I didn't like it so I gave it up."
>There's more than a grain of truth there.

>What happened was that a thought occurred to me. Music is supposed to be
>a form of communication. If I am so frightened of the audience that I
>can't function, then I am not in command of the situation. And, if the
>performer is not in charge, then no communication can take place.

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