 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Ashley91489
Date: 2009-02-09 03:07
It's happens more for my aural skills tests (where I'm singing or playing the piano) but also on the clarinet. With the aural skills tests, I practice quite a bit and can do it all pretty well but when I go in for the test, I get nervous and freak out a bit which then compromises my singing/playing ability. I'm not used to singing in front of others, especially by myself for a grade so it really freaks me out. My nerves even cause me to not be able to match pitch well, even though it's something I can do fine otherwise. It just seems that no matter how much I practice, I go in for those tests and blank out temporarily. With the clarinet, I get nervous and it seems to affect my sound. When I'm playing for fun or at my church, I do ok but when it comes to performing for a grade of in front of peers or teachers, I just get a bit freaked out.
If anyone has any suggestions on how to overcome the nerves for both the clarinet and for aural skills tests, it would be greatly appreciated!
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Author: Matthew Moran
Date: 2009-02-09 10:29
I know how you feel - It used to be the case with me. I would suffer horribly fron nerves, which in any exam (Practical and aural) caused me to panic and make silly mistakes and give silly answers.
My advice is to get a friend or member of your family who has not heard you play or is not used to it, and just sit them in the room behind you while you practise. I don't know if it will help you, but I no longer suffer from nerves (Unless it's a big performance) simply because of practise in front of large audiences and playing in a group (Which is comforting because you don't feel that you are singled out as much) Although I would agree that one-to-one exams with an examiner in the room are much more difficult.
My old piano teacher used to remind me that they're people too, not omniscient beings! Although this was usually promptly forgotten before I entered the room.
I eat a banana 20 minutes before I go into an exam - I've had several music teachers tell me that it calms you down and supress nerves, and unless they're all in on a conspiracy, it's true! It seems to work for me anyway. Also breathing, and just before you begin, remind yourself that you are in control, clear your head, and take a big breath.
I use the above, and they all help, I won't lie and say they are miracles, you will probably always feel a bit nervous but the key is getting the nerves under control to the extent that they make you alert enough to enhance your performance, rather than blinker you with the sole purpose of reaching the end of the test.
Post Edited (2009-02-09 10:30)
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Author: stebinus2
Date: 2009-02-09 14:27
Knowing your material cold always helps. I believe it's Itzak Perlman who said if he can play a piece perfectly while watching football on TV then he knows he's ready to perform it. Sometimes when I practice I imagine being in front of people and try to evoke the nerves and distractions. And then there's just doing as much performing as you can in all kinds of situations and audiences. It helps if you enjoy it though.
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2009-02-09 17:48
Have an opinion, something to make you actively involved in making the music. If it's about me and not about the music, I'm a jittery mess. If it's about the music, everything is smooth.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: pewd
Date: 2009-02-09 22:54
turn on a microphone, to record yourself.
leave the room.
come back in - pretend the mic is your audience
when you can get a clean recording, no errors, you're ready to perform
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: Dan Paprocki
Date: 2009-02-10 00:46
You might want to look at an article I did on performance anxiety at:
http://web.archive.org/web/20011015205817/www.ocr.sneezy.org/articles/paprocki1.html
Dan Paprocki
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