 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Laura
Date: 1999-05-02 17:15
Hi, I haven't posted here for ages, thanks to coursework deadlines, and too many concerts and being ill, but now I have a concert next week at which I'm playing the 1st movement of Weber 2. Of course, by now, the notes and interpretation etc etc are all fine, but if anyone has any tips on stage presentation (like how to stop your hands shaking when you play (it doesn't affect my playing, but it unnerves me somewhat!)) I'd really appreciate it!
Thanks!
Laura
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Author: Katherine Pincock
Date: 1999-05-02 18:19
Stage nervousness is different for everybody, but here's what I do; maybe it'll help.
Take some time for about the hour before you play just to sit somewhere--with your horn warmed up and all your music/other necessary materials accounted for, so you won't be worrying about that--and just concentrate on the piece. You know what it sounds like, so listen to yourself play it in your head. Think about where you tend to stumble and remind your hands to pay attention to that passage. This seems to give me a sort of inward-focused energy that helps me play.
Part of why my hands used to shake was because I jumped into playing before I was ready. When you actually get up there, take some time to think before you start--about tempo, sound, technique, whatever you find most helpful to concentrate on. It may feel like forever, but you'll probably only spend ten seconds doing this, and that's enough to get you on target.
If you do start shaking or becoming too aware of the people watching you while you play, just redirect that energy to the music. Draw your focus back to notes on the page (if you're not playing from memory) or the feeling of your hands on the keys (if you are). That gets me back into the groove most of the time.
And most importantly, just go out there and have fun! I always remind myself that I picked music as a career because I just have a blast doing it, and that sense of fun comes out in my playing. So good luck, and knock 'em dead!
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Author: Ginny
Date: 1999-05-02 19:21
I have suffered from terrible stage fright. I actually was a part of a University study. I got the placebo and meditation techniques. They did not work for me. Beta blockers work and after a while I found I no longer had the habit of getting worked up. Ask your doctor. YMMV.
Ginny
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Author: Ginny
Date: 1999-05-02 19:26
After reading more the first post carefully - if it's not so bad to ruin the playing you're probably better off with learning to concentrate on the music rather than supressing you nerves chemically.
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Author: Fat Albert
Date: 1999-05-03 03:40
WHATEVER YOU DO, DON'T SCREW UP. (For those of you with siblings, you will recognize this as the type of advice your big brother would give you right before you were about to perform.)
Although that is a useful piece of advice (NOT!), I know you have heard this before, but take a few deep breaths before you start. It helps. Also, you must remember to focus 100% of your attention on the music, and block out everything else (besides perhaps your accompanyment).
Thinking about the music in your head is also a good idea. Sometimes when I am bored I just take out the piece and concentrate on it, listening to the music in my head. This allows you to become even more familiar with the music.
No caffeine for 24 hours before the performance. Get a good night's sleep. AND NO CRAMMING! You have the music prepared, so don't worry about it! Don't over-play or over-finger on the day of the performance!
These tips have always worked for me, and they should for you too! Good luck! (Wait, I take that back; since you're well-prepared, you won't need luck!)
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Author: Don Poulsen
Date: 1999-05-03 17:31
In addition to the advice about focusing on the music, I'd like to offer something I've learned in public speaking (no, not the thing about imagining the audience in their underwear). Remember that you are the expert at what you are doing. If someone in the audience was better than you, they would be the one on stage playing the solo.
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Author: cathey
Date: 1999-05-04 20:39
Also, don't put on hand lotion. when I'm nervous , it is better to have dry hands, because they sweat!!!
Seriously, try to focus on music. The more you perform in public, the more you will be able to "control" your nerves. Nerves are not a bad thing, just a fact of life.
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Author: Dee
Date: 1999-05-04 20:53
Also remember that most of the audience is simply there just to enjoy the music not critique it. Your playing will give a great deal of pleasure to a lot of people.
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Author: Rosie
Date: 1999-05-06 00:11
I performed Concerto No. 2 for a competition, and I had to memorize it..I had never been so close to a piece of music before in my life! I know it backwards now. One thing that helped me a lot is I focused on making the music..if I think about the audience..I sometimes flip out..so I just completely emerse myself in the music. It helps a lot. Try not to focus too hard on the notes, or how well or bad you're playing..but the music..
Give them a performance they won't forget!
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 1999-05-06 00:42
Rosie wrote:
-------------------------------
I performed Concerto No. 2 for a competition, and I had to memorize it.
--]
<b><I>Which</I></B> Concerto No. 2???
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Author: col
Date: 1999-05-06 12:28
Mark,
if you read early on in the posts you will see that she means the Weber Concerto Number 2, and what a great work it is
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 1999-05-06 13:25
Col,
you're right, it's in the first posting, but I'm sure many of us don't re-read the entire thread each time we go back to the BBoard. I didn't remember Weber being mentioned in this thread; it's only in one posting.
It'd be a good idea for all of us to remember the "out-of-sequenceness" of reading postings, and try to remember to keep a little context in our postings lest we forget what we're all talking about. Judicious quoting of a previous posting can really help.
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Author: Laura
Date: 1999-05-09 13:58
Just thought I'd say thanks to everyone who posted their advice - it went really well, and although I was so scared up until the second I went on stage, I really enjoyed it!! Anyway, I didn't forget any of it, or panic (too much!!) so thanks!
Laura
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Author: col
Date: 1999-05-12 01:24
congradts on a good performance then
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