 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Kim
Date: 2001-10-09 15:12
Hey everybody!
What do you do about nerves when you are playing in front of people? I am taking conducting, and I can't seem to get over my nerves.
Thanks for your in advance,
Kim
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Author: Bob Rausch
Date: 2001-10-09 15:44
Not to be funny, but when I conducted and would get nervous, I used to imagine this attractive flute player in the front row was naked.
Seriously, find something to take your mind off being nervous. In any case remember to BREATH. If you get all choked up, your movements will be jerky and less fluid.
Bob
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Author: Bob Arney
Date: 2001-10-09 16:22
Bob: Your libido is bent. How could you conduct with a bent libido?
Bob A
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Author: Todd Wees
Date: 2001-10-09 23:00
Bob R: And that HELPED you concentrate on the score? :-)
Kim--
To start the SERIOUS responses to this thread, let me recommend a couple of books:
"The Inner Game of Music" by Barry Green. This is a bass player's application of the principles in W.Timothy Gallwey's "The Inner Game of Tennis" to the field of music performance--done with Gallwey's permission and support. (You may want to read the tennis book first to get Gallwey's original version of the principles.)
"A Soprano On Her Head" by Eloise Ristad. This is a book on overcoming performance anxiety written by a vocal and piano coach. Very entertaining reading and filled with tips and techniques to spur your creativity to overcome your fears.
Also, I think your nervousness will lessen as you do more conducting and begin to feel more confident in your beat patterns, cueing, following the score, listening to the group, etc. I'm guessing that now you are still integrating all these elements and don't feel you have them firmly in your grasp. If the people you are conducting are fellow students (of whatever age), they "share your pain" and want you to succeed, just as you do them. With continued practice you will succeed.
Todd
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Author: Todd Wees
Date: 2001-10-09 23:03
Mark Charette--
(If you see this post.) Why are there back slashes in front of the quotation marks in my post and how can I eliminate them?
Todd W.
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Author: Jessica
Date: 2001-10-10 01:03
I agree with Todd about "The Inner Game of Music"--I used to be the most nervous performer (wobbly knees, sweaty palms, dry mouth... I even had to run off stage once to vomit); well, I'm still not the most carefree performer, but "The Inner Game" has helped me a lot. I just let myself be nervous and tell myself I'm either going to play it right or play it wrong, then let it all go. (it sounds a lot easier than it seems)
Jessica
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Author: ron b
Date: 2001-10-10 01:35
I think you have the right idea, Jessica, because you agree with me. You either astound your audience with your intuitive insights into how this piece should be played or... you bomb. Either way, you can't lose; you're either congratulated for your winsome smile or admired for your guts.
Once you get that figured out, Kim, you're on your way to concentrating on making music, not who's watching. If you only knew how relieved your audience is... or, for that matter, the musicians... because it's You up there and not any of them. They can all just kick back and enjoy what you're doing. So can you :]
- ron b -
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2001-10-10 01:39
There's a minor bug in this version of Phorum. Quotes (both swingle & double) are escaped because of the underlying database, and sometimes they're not "unescaped".
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Author: fluffy
Date: 2001-10-10 02:48
i used to get so nervous that i had a tendency of biting through my reeds.....so i went to my doctor and he gave me prescrition for "beta blockers"...i've only used them once, and i wasn't nervous, so i guess they work!
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Author: DLE
Date: 2001-10-10 11:38
This is a difficult one for me to describe, since I have performed in front of people since I was 5 (I'm currently 18) - so I am used to it. Even I occasionally get nerves, but when I am playing the clarinet, the whole point about it is that you can make the sound of it transport you to your own little world. That is why the clarinet is my favourite instrument - it has such a beautiful sound, that when I am playing it, I am relaxed, and not nervous. I guess that this calming effect does not apply to everyone then.....
DLE.
A Tip: There is nothing to be nervous about - YOU are the performer, and YOU are in control. It is the audience who should be nervous, 'cause they are not expecting what you are about to play..
(Sorry if this philosophy is confusing. I'm thinking of writing a book about this - 'What d'ya think?)
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Author: Joseph O'Kelly
Date: 2001-10-11 00:04
Beta blockers work great. I've noticed that when I've given auditions recently I've been very calm, (actually too calm.) I am on beta blockers for a medical condition and relized this is probably why. In any case I have always told myself that whatever will happen is ment to happen and just try to suck it up and give a good performance.
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Author: HAT
Date: 2001-10-11 14:02
There really it much you can do except perform a lot. Just get up and speak in front of people when ever you get a chancee, and play in front of people whenever you get a chance.
Since it is virtually impossible to play your best in public until you conquer this problem (and it takes a long time but is not impossible) you have to prepare. So you have to learn a piece 130% in order to give a 90% concert. So every passage that is tricky you have to practice way more than you think. Over-preperation will also help your confidence.
Good Luck
David Hattner, NYC
www.northbranchrecords.com
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