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Re: Performance Anxiety

Author: d-oboe
Date: 2007-10-12 11:58

The problem is psychological.

Some people take drugs (beta blockers) to calm the physical response of nervousness. But the problem isn't physical!! While fear may manifest itself physically, fear is a product of the mind, and nothing else.
Fear, in a way, is actually good for performing. It keeps your mind on edge, and you respond much more vividly to the music. The problem is when you feel guilty of getting feelings of fear, as if feeling nervous somehow meant you were a weaker, or inferior version of a "real" musician. But that's untrue. EVERYONE gets nervous! The best musicians have figured out how to cope with it through experience.
That's kinda the bad news...the only way to overcome fear of performing is to PERFORM!!! No one's asking you to jump off a cliff. Just play a few bars of nice music - that's all!
Do some deep breath and calm stretching. This will at least release the tension in the muscles.
Enjoy the concert!

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