 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: claren11
Date: 2003-12-22 16:21
This past Sunday, my daughter, a freshman in High School, and I played a clarinet duet during our church’s service. While I was playing, I noticed that both my lips and hands were trembling while my daughter seemed very much in control. Despite my nervousness, I persevered through both songs.However, I squeaked once at the beginning of both songs, the second squeak seemed the worst. We are going to play these songs again at our coming Christmas Eve service. I really want to do well, but now am afraid of squeaking again. Family and inlaws will be attending this service. I would greatly appreciate any advice in how to deal with my anxieties. I would like to get past this and continue to perform. I started playing the clarinet again in a community band about a year and a half ago.
I had played through high school.
Post Edited (2003-12-22 16:23)
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Author: leonardA
Date: 2003-12-22 17:56
I'm sort of where you are because I picked up the sax about a year and a half ago after not playing since high school and have also been studying clarinet for a year. I'm making good progress, but probably like you, am somewhat inconsistent. I know though that the pieces I'm the most consistent on are the ones I have played over and over. So my advice would be to just drill the piece you are going to play until you are really confident with it. That should make you less nervous, just knowing that you are prepared and that you have and can play the piece. And, I know it's not easy but just try to relax and enjoy it. Try to imagine you are playing it with your daughter in your home.
Break a leg, and let us know how it goes.
Leonard
Post Edited (2003-12-22 17:57)
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Author: jo.clarinet
Date: 2003-12-22 19:41
Well done for doing this in the first place! I imagine that most of the adults in the congregation were full of admiration for you and wished they were brave/capable enough to do the same.
I tell my young pupils that if they begin to feel worryingly nervous they should remember that the vast majority of their audience know very little about music and think that anything is brilliant, as long as the performer looks confident! NB If you aim to make yourself look confident, often it does actually calm you down. Try to really get into the music and don't worry about what they think of you. I'm sure you'll be fine!
Best of luck,
Jo
Joanna Brown
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2003-12-22 20:14
I find that when I concentrate on the music more, the nervousness tends to dissappear and it's more enjoyable for myself and for the audience. If you try to really put your feeling into the music and concentrate on your tone and notes and mood of the piece, you'll be sure to sound better than if you're wondering what everyone else is thinking and also the piece will come out more beautiful because of that extra care you're taking while playing it.
And if you happen to flub a certain part (which certainly happens to me), try to get back into the music and concentrate a little harder on the music instead of worrying what people might have thought. And for your specific audience, I'm sure that they are sitting there appreciating the sounds coming out and the fact that you are entertaining them rather than trying to pick apart the performance. If you were at an audition it might be a different story . . . but you're not (insert sigh of relief here)
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Greystones
Date: 2003-12-22 21:34
Learn the dots until you can play them as good as possible and go out there and try to enjoy yourself.
As mentioned you are probably a better musician than anyone in the audience so try to get into a frame of mind were you want to show people how great you really are and if you can achieve this you will not only perform well but also really enjoy what you are doing.
This doesn't always work for me but when it does the enjoyment level for myself is greatly increased.
I am also someone who has gone back to the clarinet after a number of years away and the older I get the more nervous I get but a positive attitude I find is the best way to overcome this.
Robert
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Author: clarinetmajr
Date: 2003-12-22 22:12
I used to get really nervous performing too and then after a while it occured to me that this was such a waste of energy. If I screw up, who cares? So i'm embarrassed. My life will go on. Once I decided to just play the music and forget about playing "the clarinet" then things became a lot easier. You have nothing to worry about! enjoy the music! ( ;
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Author: ron b
Date: 2003-12-22 22:50
What a wonderful way to take part in the Christmas celebration, Claren. I'm sure you and your daughter always warm the hearts of any and all who hear you play.
A squeak, or a squawk, may bring on a serious episode of the giggles but there are no known cases of it causing a death in the family.
Wishing you a happy holiday season and joyus return to the fantastic world of (returning) music makers 
- r![[cool]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/cool.gif) n b -
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Author: Melissa
Date: 2003-12-23 01:04
You know I have found that I can play in front of basically anyone unless I am being judged. For example, last year I was at a competition and I was horrible! Shaking, everything. I squeaked about 5 times because my air support was horrible! For some reason I still won, and when I played at the "festival of stars" (the crowd was about 4 times as large as the compeition) I wasn't nervous at all and was almost flawless with my playing! Does anyone else do the same?
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Author: Laurie
Date: 2003-12-23 01:29
I totally understand your performance anxiety. I failed my level this sesmister cause i freaked out during the last 2 minutes. :(
One thing i have found to work is, keep your head clear- Know your music well enough that you can just play. When I play in front of people, I keep telling myself " It's going to be allright, you know this piece, CALM DOWN, etc and so on.. " Go into this christmas performance knowing that you are going to play beautifully. Just go in with the attitude of " Lets have fun"
Best of luck, let me know how it goes.
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Author: Rev. Avery
Date: 2003-12-23 12:13
Glad you wrote about this I play my Ocarina in every service. I used to get nervous but not anymore. If I mess up, it's fine. But, I've found the more I played the less nervous I got.
However, my oldest daughter and I will be playing in our Christmas Eve service. She'll be playing piano and I'll be on my Clarinet. I'm nervous about it. But, I think because I've played my Ocarina so much in a public setting that that will help. But, we'll see ...
Most people are very forgiving and are just really happy that folks will even try to do such a thing.
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Author: traysee
Date: 2003-12-23 21:53
This may seem weird, but this is how I used deal with nervousness. I heard somewhere that there is something in bananas that help calm a person down so I started to eat a banana before a performance. I also would take a few minutes to myself right beforehand and close my eyes and center myself before going on stage. My hands always shake and when I get nervous, they shake so much that it looks like I am going to drop whatever is in them and doing what I wrote seemed to help.
traysee
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Author: Pam H.
Date: 2003-12-23 23:25
All the advice given is good. What helps me is to "Play from the heart." Remember that you are "playing" an instrument. This implies fun, just as children play. Have some fun. Put your heart into in. You can overdo the dynamics some as it is just the two of you. Have some fun with smaltzing.
I love playing in my church's orchestra. Sometimes I get a featured solo line and anymore I don't get nervous at all. I just keep an eye on our conductor and my music and have some fun. (Granted, it's a bit different mentally than doing a solo or duet.)
Hope it goes well with no squeeks!
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Author: Laurie
Date: 2003-12-24 03:33
traysee - Eating banana's do help ! There are beta blockers in the bananas, that will ease your nerves. I usually eat 2 or 3 through the day and i'm a tad bit calmer. Even if you arn't.. it might act as a placebo and you might think you're calmer !
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Author: Carol Dutcher
Date: 2003-12-24 04:18
I doubt if you would do this in church (!) but I have extreme anxiety sometimes but not all the time when I play. It seems to depend on how big the crowd is. I get very shaky and trembly. So I drink one glass of beer before I get out there. I think that if I played in church, which I have not done yet, I would have more of a tendency to get so nervous I would get the giggles because of the somber mood of the occasion.
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Author: DougR
Date: 2003-12-24 13:01
There are a couple of things that unfailingly work for me in high-pressure playing situations (I don't do a lot of high-pressure playing, and empathize with the original poster on that score).
1) be musically OVER-prepared, leave as little musically to chance as possible.
2) notice if you STOP breathing, or find yourself holding your breath, while you're performing (which we all tend to do in nervous-making situations), and remember instead to take long, deep breaths (which has a physiologically calming effect)
3) keep a bottle of water handy for dry mouth & lips
4) (echoing sfalexi, above) focus ESPECIALLY meticulously on the music, as you're playing, to keep your concentration on the music at 100%. (I find that in high pressure situations especially, my brain gets crowded with thoughts like, "Uh-oh, I'm coming to that hard spot," or "Uh-oh, there's Great-Aunt Maude, she never liked me, gotta play well," or "Don't I look cool up here!" or "Oops, that didn't sound right, what happened back there?!" ... all of which practically guarantee you'll miss a note or make a hideous mistake.)
If you only do one of the above, make it No. 4. Being deliberately hyper-vigilant about note values, dynamics, blend, counting (especially rests), pitch, etc., in high-pressure public situations, WORKS.
Good luck!
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Author: clarinetmama
Date: 2003-12-24 13:23
Beer and bananas. Perhaps we could put together a musicians' diet and make a million bucks. I always have a drink (I'm a whiskey drinker, not beer) before I play a concert or rehearsal (night rehearsal). Probably wouldn't be good for anything that happens before noon.
I remember a band director in high school showing me some breathing techniques. Amazing how a few very deep breaths will help. You need to keep the blood flowing. My hands used to get very cold. This is due to the blood vessels constricting.
Way to go for getting out there and doing it. I play professionally (I use that term loosely). I get paid to play, so I guess that makes me a pro. Anyway, we all get a little nervous. One the ocassions when I haven't been nervous I haven't played well. I think being a tad anxious keeps us on our toes.
Keep up the good work. Look at it this way, how many people in the audience/congregation have the guts to put themselves out there and do what you did?
Happy Holidays, Jean
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Author: wyatt
Date: 2003-12-24 14:33
Remember who's house you are in and that you are playing for Him. So just turn it over to the Big Guy and let Him deal with it.
Remember the Little Drummer Boy. You are doing the same thing.
The people out in front will never kill you so forget about it and have fun.
Peace and a Merry Christmaso
bob gardner}ÜJ
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2003-12-24 14:59
wyatt wrote:
> Remember who's house you are in and that you are playing for
> Him. So just turn it over to the Big Guy and let Him deal with
> it.
Whatever Him may or may not be ...
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Author: Gretchen
Date: 2003-12-24 16:47
ever try practicing in front of other people? or playing your part for your whole family, so that you can practice getting nervous, so that you know yoru tendencies before you get nervous during the performance.
Some people have the magical ability of not getting nervous...some don't. The trick is learning how to deal with your nerves. If you know what you tend to do when you play, like squeeking (probably caused by biting and not keeping a constant air stream) you might want to play for someone else and try different things that make you sound better.
Good luck!! I'm sure you'll sound great. And your church will appreciate the effort of you playing for them no matter what. Either way, you can do it and they can't...so you've got nothing to be nervous about!
Gretchen
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Author: Rachel
Date: 2003-12-26 00:43
"Remember that you are playing for Him" I get nervous enough when I am just playing for an AMEB examiner, let alone GOD!
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2003-12-26 03:12
Melissa,
I have had the same problem. For auditions or juries, I play my worst. For performances (recitals to orch to anything) I play my best.
Unfortunately, I have no solution for you because I never found one. Well, other than to decide not to pursue and orchestral career since getting a job requires an audition. I play (I guess) pro, but on my terms and with groups who've gotten to know me through performances rather than auditions.
Katrina (who would accept solutions to this problem and then hopefully would get a major job?  )
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Author: Markus Wenninger
Date: 2003-12-26 14:25
Hopefully all went well, Claren, I am sure it did. You just went out and showed them how it is done.
- The spiritual aspect of music was mentioned: It is essential, to my view; as Dürer put it, try to get rid of yourself, let God use you - for Dürer all the "mistakes" he saw in his painting and etchings were where he adhered to his subjective individual whims and ideas, when he didn´t let himself be used as a vessel to outpour something not himself.
- For the more mundane aspects: After rehearsing, after working yourself up to your very best - have a beer. Honestly, instead of believeing the "betablocking banana" (though, if the belief is strong enough, it may help indeed; I for my part adhere to a meticulous assembling-the-instrument-routine, not that there´d be a objective effect, but methinks I play better then indeed, and let those smirkers smirk), it calms one down somewhat, it something non-musical to enjoy before a concert performance, it creates a good mouth-climate, not too much salive nor too little, and whilst having it you can muse on how you´re gonna blow them away.
I wish you a wonderful year 2004, health and everything you wish for yourself,
Markus
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Author: TheOracle3
Date: 2003-12-27 17:27
The Christmas Eve performance went much better. Thank you to everyone for sharing your knowledge and encouragement which helped me through this endeavor. We played “Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee” and “Joy to The World”. Although nervous, I focused only on playing the music and I was able to relax more. In fact, we played as a trio for this performance including a friend from work. After our performance, we sat down to enjoy the rest of the church service and felt like I wanted to perform again. My daughter and I have decided we will perform at my friend’s church as a trio again. I feel I am getting “hooked”.
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Author: Joel K.
Date: 2003-12-27 17:44
I once heard Mitchell Lurie say the following about performing:
"You can look at it as an ordeal or an opportunity."
If you think of it as the latter perhaps the nerves will dissipate a bit.
Joel K.
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2003-12-27 20:33
Hi,
An old story that may be true of not. It is said that Harry James, the great swing trumpet player and badn leader, was nervous about making a mistake on a recording and used to purposely make a small error at the start of a recording session to take the pressure off.
As was stated earlier "If I screw up, who cares? So i'm embarrassed. My life will go on."
HRL
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Author: ron b
Date: 2003-12-27 20:40
Nice goin', I'm sure, Claren. I'd happily travel to the next town to hear you play. When's your next engagement?
Wishing you and yours a wonderful New Year.
- ron b -
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