 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Lorie
Date: 2002-05-09 22:13
Okay, everybody:
I know this gets alot of discussion, but here it is once again (sorry, Mark). I just finished playing my juries yesterday and I have had this terrible problem with stacking (it's usually a big issue in oboe playing - where you don't get rid of all the air in your lungs, but continue to inhale). It got so bad that I actually thought I was going to pass out. With me, the whole ugly mess starts because I really wig out. My nerves just get out of hand and I cannot seem to control this at all. My teacher said that I started out beautifully and at the first little glitch, I sucked back and stopped putting air through the horn... well, you get the picture. I have been a nervous player my entire life and this is killing me. I have made tremendous improvement this semester but it just never came through under the pressure. I would give anything to get rid of this "monkey on my back". I just feel absolutely helpless. I welcome any suggestions at all.
ps - I am an old timer back in grad school after 25yrs off - and playing FAR better now than I did when I was 20!!!! Just as nervous as I was at 20, though <VBG>
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: diz
Date: 2002-05-09 22:32
Look, nerves are a major problem for some people. I cured myself of the nerves by joining my local community theatre group and singing (in the chorus) for a musical - I was petrified the first time and now - 15 years later, I only get very slight butterflies - it worked for me. Also, such organisations as Rotary, who foster public speaking are good ... just a thought. If all else fails, camomile tea and a ...
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: ron b
Date: 2002-05-10 04:16
You're playing better now than you ever did and you know it.
Sooo....
Whoever your listeners happen to be, try to remember that 'they' (Your audience) is on Your side, Lorie. Just play your heart out -- for you, you won't crash, and they'll be rapt with wonder at how you do that so well.
A few eons ago I found that playing in small ensembles and/or duets or trios helped a lot in getting used to performing before an audience. I don't know your particular situation but you might consider small groups for a while and then go for the solos again when you feel (more) comfortable. Exchange that bad monkey for a bouquet of butterflies.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: gemmaelizabeth
Date: 2002-05-10 13:46
I have the same problem, although, mine isn't really the nerves. But I have a problem with stacking in this particular study that i am doing for my technical assesment.
It starts off fine, then come the last 5 lines or so of the first page, and then the WHOLE of the last page, and there is no rests and hardly anywhere to breathe, so I find, where I do find somewhere to breathe, i only have time to that, and not enough time to get rid of the useless air.
Its quite bad in the practise room, but I can imagine it will be ten times worse in the exam, any suggestions. Should I just take a beat out, breathe out, then in again, then continue....I am just worried they might take marks off for that. What do you think?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: janlynn
Date: 2002-05-10 14:32
lorie - this sounds like performance anxiety which is associated with that monkey on your back. WHO is that monkey? WHO are you trying to please? it just sounds very familiar to me. as soon as i hear myself make a mistake i get all funny inside. i shake, i breathe funny, i panic. it wasnt until this year that i came to recognize who the monkey on back was and once i realized it, i also realized how inhibited i was as a musician. i am still working on things, but i have more confidence and flow in my playing now.
if any of this sounds familiar , or you just want more detail as to what im talking about, feel free to email me.
janlynn
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Lorie
Date: 2002-05-10 15:47
You guys are in there with me. The piece I played in my jury was the Gaubert Fantaisie. There are few really good places to do what I call, "settle". My teacher has always told me "Play to express and not to impress" and I thought that was what I was doing. I just get that "deer in the headlights" thing happening and it is something that I can't seem to find my way out of. I guess I just have to keep playing in front of people. My Masters recital is late August and the Gaubert is on it (so is the Reicha quintet and the Karg-Elert Sonata unaccompanied). It's going to be tough going if I don't get some kind of control over my focus.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Jerry McD
Date: 2002-05-11 22:39
Lorie,
Welcome back, I too am returning after a long layoff...I'm back in undergrad music. The last time I played a jury was in 1987, then I had to play a jury this past December, and a junior recital last April. The number one thing I would say is that when the pressure is on, if something is not completely ingrained in your preparation you run the risk of it failing, such as technique in a difficult passage, proper breath control, voicing etc. From what I get from your post is that you don't always exhale your unspent air at the end of phrases (even if you don't need to). It is a very good habit to get into to exhale and start each breath line with a fresh load of air. The only way you can practice this is to really pay attention to it in the practice room. Make it a habit and you hopefully will be able to avoid this 'stacking' problem because your ingrained breathing patterns won't allow you to do it. If you want to swap stories, feel free to e-mail me.
Good luck!
Jerry McD.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Lorie
Date: 2002-05-13 17:02
Hey, Jerry:
That's absolutely "on the money". I think the best thing that you said was that the change has to start in the practice room. I will work dilligently on 1)relaxing my breathing and not breathing with the upper chest (My teacher calls this Darth Vader breathing) and 2)I will mark my music with something that reminds me to exhale (like the oboists do). The bigger this breathing issue becomes, the more my nerves get frazzled. As you could tell from the original posting, it was pretty much out of control. It's a pretty frustrating situation for me.
Lorie
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
