 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Gretchen
Date: 2005-09-15 12:42
Hey all,
As a performer, I have a big problem: my bodily reaction to nervousness. I of course, know everyone gets nervous, but I havne't met anyone yet who has my problem. It mostly happens in slow expressive phrases when I'll be playing and I get an urge to swallow (one so bad, that sometimes, by body just does it, without my really wanting to). I almost feel something in the back of my throat! But once I swallow (interrupting the phrase) a) I think about how awful that interruption must have sounded, making me more nervous, and b) it starts all over again. It's gotten so bad at times, that the urge to swallow (and thoughts telling myself NOT to) is all I can think about, and it really takes away from my concentration and output of expression.
My questions are these: 1) Anyone have this problem, and how are you dealing with it? 2) Any suggestions?? 3) I've read a few books about performance anxiety, and think they have helped, but I'm open to any other books. 4) Do beta blockers help? I've been told about beta blockers...but my teacher really urges me not to use them. He feels the nerves give the performances excitement. Maybe I do need them though??
Thanks for any input
Gretchen
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2005-09-15 12:51
Gretch.....I have heard and seen u play and believe me, while you might be nervous, you dont look that way, and most of all, you seem to enjoy yourself.
Mrs. S, who has also been at your performance, is a competitive bridge player and knows a good deal about nerves and such....contact me offline and she can help you.
Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-
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Author: BobD
Date: 2005-09-15 13:02
I guess one of the things that clarinet players are taught is that they must play everything perfectly thus they become nervous perfectionists. One of the tactics used to overcome nervousness is slow deep breathing. How to accomplish this and still breathe properly for clarinet playing is something that you might work on.
Bob Draznik
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Author: rockymountainbo
Date: 2005-09-15 13:03
I wouldn't recommend this, but Babe Ruth used to drink whiskey (so I hear).
When I used to perform in a rock band, as the front man, I used to pretend there was nobody in the audience. Half the time, with the lights in my eyes, I couldn't see any of them anyway. You might want to try to pretend all the audience members are wearing the pajamas instead of nice suits and whatnot.
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Author: hans
Date: 2005-09-15 13:23
Gretchen,
Presumably the problem does not occur when you play these passages sans audience.
In addition to the suggestions above....
Desensitization might help; i.e., getting more experience playing for audiences until it no longer affects you.
Avoid caffeine - e.g., colas, coffee, tea, chocolate, many prescription drugs - for a day before performing (it has a long half-life), since it will often exacerbate nervousness.
www.mayoclinic.com will provide you with the side effects of beta blockers.
Regards,
Hans
Post Edited (2005-09-15 16:14)
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Author: Tony Pay ★2017
Date: 2005-09-16 10:27
It has happened to me from time to time. Of course, when I tried to do it just now, I couldn't:-) but I seem to remember that doing something rather like actually swallowing (half-swallowing?) need not affect the sound too much. And given what people do in order to circular breathe, it might be worth practising half-swallowing while playing, just to see what you're up against.
'Know your enemy' is always a good motto. And, 'you get what you resist' isn't bad either.
(Don't think of a pink elephant.)
Tony
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