 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Jeff
Date: 2000-01-31 01:11
Hello everyone
I have Solo and Ensemble Contest coming up next Saturday, and whenever I play in front of a judge by myself, I get really nervous. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to keep myself from getting so nervous?
Thanks in advance!
Jeff
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2000-01-31 01:47
Jeff,
Do a search right here on the BBoard for nerves, nervous, etc. . It's been discussed plenty of times before.
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Author: judy
Date: 2000-01-31 12:25
First - practice effectively every day. This will help to build your confidence.
Second - arrange one or two mock performance situations. Let your parents or other adults pretend to be the judges. Come in the room dressed nicely, shake hands, etc., just like you would in the solo and ensemble situation. If the people you choose are good actors/actresses, you will probably get nervous even though you know they are not real judges. When you play, don't think about anything except communicating how much you love the music and how much you want them to love it.
Third - On the day of the performance - don't practice too much. Warm up just enough. Then go in and show the judges how much you are enjoying yourself and loving the music.
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Author: Jenneatte
Date: 2000-01-31 13:13
Hey man, just eat a lot of bannanas. I've heard that something in them calms your nerves. Otherwise just have fun while you play. Don't worry about what the judge is doing.
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Author: Lelia
Date: 2000-01-31 13:18
Eating a lot of bananas is fine if your body is used to a lot of bananas. Eating a whole lot of any type of fruit right before a performance, if you're not used to eating a whole lot of fruit all at once, can lead to some unfortunate gastro-intestinal distractions. I vote for keeping your life as normal as possible under the circumstances and trusting what you know has worked for you before -- what makes you feel comfortable. Try loading up on bananas (or whatever) in your rehearsal with family first -- don't test some new idea for the first time on performance day!
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Author: Tim2
Date: 2000-02-01 01:09
I played for a recital a few weeks ago. As was said above, be prepared, practice diligently. Know that you know your music. I had never tried the banana thing before. Two hours before I played, I had a banana with my meal. It was the first time I was able to play without getting the least bit jittery. I weigh 130 lbs. so one did it for me and I will do it next time. But that is just one thing. As the first reply to your post says, practice and rehearse. Know it inside and out. Good luck to you.
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Author: Rick2
Date: 2000-02-01 03:28
This might seem like an anti-productive idea, but it really is the way to calm your nerves. That is, don't care so much. If you go in with the attitude that if you blow it, so what, chances are pretty good that you'll end up doing better than if you were all tense and really worry about it.
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Author: E
Date: 2000-02-05 21:42
Have you considered taking endorol? It is a prescription drug that is used for performance anxiety by many professionals. Ask your doctor if you able to take endorol. If not, there are other beta blockers that you might be able to take that are equally effective. People are going to tell you that this is not the best way to deal with your nerves, but I totally disagree. You have no idea how great these "majic pills" are until you try them. It is in your best interest to get a prescription. They will change your life!!!
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Author: Steven Epstein
Date: 2000-02-05 22:02
Are you a high school student? It sounds that way from the other posts. You should not be taking drugs for this problem.
If you are older than that, and definitely set upon a career as a professional classical musician, knowing that you have the talent, drive, and everything else, then that is another matter; I don't like the idea of people using drugs, but you have to do what you have to do, considering the competitive nature of this field.
Otherwise, you don't even have a problem, and should not consider using drugs. If your performance is subpar because either your nerves get the better of you or you adopt an "I don't care attititude", so what? But if you are seriously planning to be a professional, and absolutely must have topnotch performances at any cost, then, unfortunately, it's another matter, as I said. In that case, I would only get it on prescription from an MD or DO (it's really illegal to get prescription drugs otherwise), and be certain you know the risks and don't take any higher than the prescribed dose.
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Author: Steven Epstein
Date: 2000-02-05 22:34
I've thought about this some more: You should not under any circumstances use these drugs, even if you intend to become a pro.
Many drug problems begin with prescriptions. You get specific instructions how to take them but suddenly they don't seem to work so you up the dose. Meanwhile, you are also using some "recreational" drugs, and so the possibility of a fatal interaction exists. Musicians, including classical musicians, have long been susceptible to drug abuse. A drug does not have to be addictive or get you high to be abused. You just need to depend upon it to gain a psychological effect you consider essential.
So I have to say, under no circumstances should these types of drugs be used (for performance anxiety, that is, not true panic disorders, etc.), even if they work, even if there are no harmful side effects when taken properly.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2000-02-05 22:52
Steven Epstein wrote:
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I've thought about this some more: You should not under any circumstances use these drugs, even if you intend to become a pro.
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Steven,
I respect your position; however, if you search through this BBoard, you will find some other opinions about drugs such as inderol.
They are not performance enhancing; they are performance allowing drugs.
My opinion is mixed. However, I do agree wholeheartedly that a doctor needs to be involved every step of the way, and that drugs, if used at all, be used as a last resort.
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Author: Steven Epstein
Date: 2000-02-05 23:29
Yes, I recall that discussion.
The problem I have, is that once you have a prescription, you have the potential for abuse, in a population with a huge potential for abuse, or they would not need these drugs in the first place. I don't discount the need for these drugs, or their effectiveness, or their safety, if used properly. What I am concerned about is whether they will be used properly, by college-aged kids on their own, exposed to illegal drugs as well, and under enormous pressure in their chosen major or field of endeavor.
Mark, you have a son who is a musician. Do you want him to use these drugs? If he does, do you worry about it?
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2000-02-06 00:12
Steven Epstein wrote:
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>Mark, you have a son who is a musician. Do you want him to >use these drugs?
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If it was necessary for him to perform, yes.
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>If he does, do you worry about it?
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No, as long as it was under a doctor's direction. I have a lot more fear of him getting hit by a car, alcohol, etc. If he had wrist problems and the doctor put him on a monitored regimen of cortisones or steroids, I wouldn't worry either. Self-prescription I would worry about, though.
Students, from elementary on up to college, are exposed to drugs with much worse effects than something like inderal. If they've been able to get up to high school or college without a drug problem then I don't think something prescribed from a doctor for a particular problem will put them over the edge.
Remember, drugs such as inderal only help the physical effects, not the underlying psychological problem. For some people, the physical effects are <b>completely</b> debilitating, no matter how much they try to overcome them. Those are the people who need to look at some of the drugs. "Stage fright" in most cases is a short-term phenomena (I still get nervous for a few minutes when I'm speaking formally to a crowd, but it passes quickly now. It wasn't always that way!), but for the few that are paralyzed performing in public, the drugs are a godsend.
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Author: Ginny
Date: 2000-02-06 03:12
Actually, as mentioned in a prior thread about stage fright, beta blockers are very effective. In my personal experience , I found that they removed my well learned fear responses to performance and I was able to stop using them after a time. First, I had actually had the placebo in a stagefright study at Stanford. The meditation, inner game etc. did not help. Medication did. With beta blockers I unlearned the response.
This is my personal experience, note that I do not say that one should go get them from the local pusher...I assume that any individual with severe stage fright would locate an appropriate care provider. Also, since unlearning the fear response I can enjoy playing in front of others, even more so now that I don't need the Betablockers to do so.
I would much prefer that my kid use beta blockers than self medicate with booze, marijuana and cocaine, as I saw so many pros do when I made money playing. Or be unable to enjoy playing for others...
I think stage fright is often induced by teacher pressure. I also think that teachers send kids into recital/ competition situations with pieces that are typically too hard. Kids should be playing stuff they could nail a year prior, then they'd never worry about the notes and get the fear thing going as strongly.
Ginny
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Author: col
Date: 2000-02-06 10:16
I would have to agree with Ginny regarding to the level of music that kids should play, however being at college myself i can understand why younger people choose harder pieces to play. I don't believe teachers are truely to blame but often it is the fact that the student has set goals to high to early.
As for the drugs that assist in calming nevres i believe that if the performer wishes to use them then by all means they should as long as they understand whatever risks are associated. Nevertheless i also believe that by using these drugs the performer would probably ( but not definately )never reach their full potential. Everyone gets a stage fright before they perform how they handle it is really what matters in the long run and if you can harness it without drugs then it gives a thrill to you as you play and a real lift when you get to the end successfully. maybe these drugs don't deminish this feeling but i doubt it.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2000-02-06 14:31
col wrote:
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Nevertheless i also believe that by using these drugs the performer would probably ( but not definately )never reach their full potential.
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maybe these drugs don't deminish this feeling but i doubt it.
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col, you're very wrong here. The drugs in question (a certain group of beta-blockers) only work to reduce some adrenaline-induced physical symptoms. They do not affect muscle control, brain function, or anything else associated with playing.
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Author: Steven Epstein
Date: 2000-02-06 15:45
But there is still the question, what happens in the real world. Anabolic steroids and blood doping agents are only available on prescription, however, they have been known to be prevalent in athletic lockerrooms, provided (illegally) by trainers, with pressure placed upon the athletes to use them, even if the pressure is only that other athletes on the team are using them and they get to be starters.
From what I've read here on sneezy, it is apparent that the world of classical music training and performance is hypercompetitive. It is not too difficult to imagine a scenario where these drugs are overprescribed by "friendly" physicians and then spread arond illegally by well-meaning teachers, all this occurring in an atmosphere of recreational drug use, as well. You can have people trying to amplify their Inderal by taking it with cocaine, perhaps because someone told them it's more effective that way. Mark's son might not do that, but others would.
I have no problem with the use of these drugs for true panic attacks, or for someone who cannot do anything without them, regardless of how much or how little external pressure there is, i.e.; it really has nothing to do with pressure. But the original post here seems to be about a nervous kid who's under a lot of pressure to do well, much of which might be self-imposed. Would we recommend that he take amphetamines to stay awake at night in order to study longer to get better grades? What if he takes amphetamines and Inderal together, then celebrates doing well on an audition or final exam with a six-pack?
I just don't want to see some talented, promising musician fall asleep and not wake up.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2000-02-06 16:23
Steven Epstein wrote:
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[snip]
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The genie's been out of the bottle since before people chewed on coca leaves. If someone chooses to abuse the drugs (which in this case don't add to any euphoric feeling or help with physical ability) - well, that's the way it is. They're not "performance enhancing" drugs by any means, unless someone wants to call something like aspirin performance enhancing. If it wasn't for aspirin I wouldn't have been able to go to college (bad fever on scholarship test day).
Now, some have (<b>not</b> Steven!) said in the past that people using these drugs have an "unfair advantage", meaning that now these people are competitors where before they wouldn't have been. I guess we could extend that analogy to people who take similar drugs for panic attacks - they're now competitors to me in the workplace. Maybe we should withold the drugs to _those_ people, too ...
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Author: col
Date: 2000-02-07 02:33
maybe ......... how are they not performacing enhancing drugs ?? even if you agree with them which i do in situations, they have to be labelled performancing enhancing
because that is why you are taking them to control the nerves to improve the performance hence performance enhancing.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2000-02-07 02:47
col wrote:
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maybe ......... how are they not performacing enhancing drugs ??
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Then it's a stretch - _any_ drug could be called "performance enhancing", especially those that keep us from dying ...
Let's keep our semantics straight.
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Author: Lelia
Date: 2000-02-08 16:12
I agree with Stephen Epstein's cautionary words. Inderol and other beta blockers are powerful drugs. People may take them too lightly and assume they're harmless. For some people, they're not helpful, and for a few people, they're quite deadly. Beta blockers lower the blood pressure. In a minority of users, the result can be lightheadedness, syncope (fainting) or even heart failure.
My own doctor warned me about this problem. I have intractable stage fright. I also have low blood pressure. My doctor says Inderol is out of the question for me and I respect his judgment.
My husband plays with a pianist who has a long history of entering piano competitions. She has seen students pass bootleg INderol around like candy backstage at these events. She has also seen a student take Inderol for the first time about an hour before going on stage, then black out cold when his name was called and he stood up too fast. End of competition for him.
I feel very strongly that nobody should mess with that stuff without a physical exam and a doctor's prescription. Just not worth the risk.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2000-02-08 16:24
Lelia wrote:
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I agree with Stephen Epstein's cautionary words
[snip]
I feel very strongly that nobody should mess with that stuff without a physical exam and a doctor's prescription. Just not worth the risk.
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Same as me. I just can't agree with Stephen's idea of a ban on them.
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Author: Steve Epstein
Date: 2000-02-08 23:51
Wait a minute, I'm not banning anything, only trying to influence others who might be thinking of using these drugs.
We really need to examine our attitudes toward musical performance, especially classical music. Most people will not be or are not making their living playing, so for them, using these drugs is totally out of proportion, unless, this is generalized performance anxiety about anything and everything, not just playing. But if you take a kid and you instill in him the concept that he has to succeed at whatever he's doing, whether it's sports, calculus, or clarinet, then he has no perspective about what's really important. He thinks if he fails at clarinet performance, he's a loser in life.
So Jeff, we haven't heard from YOU in a while. What do you think about all this?
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