 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: bombus
Date: 2010-11-07 01:53
I seriously cannot figure out how to relax. Whenever I play, especially at an audition, my entire right arm goes rigid and my fingers tense up. How do I alleviate this? I think it's more than a mental issue because there is some level of tenseness even when there's no pressure in playing.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Katrina
Date: 2010-11-07 03:21
Relaxing while practicing is the start. Play your scales/Baermann/warm-up while ONLY thinking about keeping all of your muscles only at the level of work needed to accomplish the task.
It's very hard at the beginning to remember to relax when you're performing or practicing something that's difficult to do. Try only the simplest exercises while learning to relax while playing, then upgrade little by little to more and more complex pieces.
Take it slow, because it's muscle memory, but once the memory is there you should be ok.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: clarinetguy ★2017
Date: 2010-11-07 11:39
Katrina has some good ideas.
To prepare for an audition (or playing for an audience), there's the new Virtual Audience system from Miami University of Ohio. http://arts.muohio.edu/school-fine-arts/about-school/creativity-learning/-virtual-audience
It might not be easy or practical to purchase this kind of system, but I have another idea that might be worth a try. Do a Google search for "Pictures of an audience." A lot of stock audience photos will come up. You can enlarge many of them, and it will appear that a large audience is staring at you. Practicing your audition selections while facing these fake audiences might be a good way to help get the jitters out.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: William
Date: 2010-11-07 16:06
There's nothing more "relaxing" than confidence. If you have to worry that something will not go just right, there's no way you can avoid that tense, up-tight feeling and the muscle pains that will go along with it. There is also the fatigue factor of simply not being to top condition to perform without "running out of steam". The answer is preparation through focused regular and relentless practice....even during Holidays, your birthday and Sunday afternoons. Money can't buy this nor can new equipement--you have to "pay your dues" in your practice room and continue to get all the playing experiance you can. If this sounds like work--your right.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: salzo
Date: 2010-11-07 19:43
For me, it always starts in the feet, and then works itself through my entire body like wildfire. After many years, I figured out how to stay relaxed- I envision whales breaching the surface. I dont know why, but that keeps me calm.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2010-11-07 23:46
Well there are several things you can try. I've always found being extremely confident helps a lot, knowing you can nail everything over and over again. Play your audition, or solo, material for juries of your peers and or family. Even if they don't know anything about music, just playing in front of several people several times before the real thing can really help. Do it in a formal way too, as though they are the actually jury. Try to relax for a while after warming up, just sit by yourself and don't think about it for a few minutes.
If all else fails you can try taking a "small" drink of wine or beer to see if that helps but I'd suggest if you do that you experiment a few times first to see how you can handle it and in what amount. I'm not talking about drinking a lot, 1/2 to 1 oz the most. The last resort can be asking your doctor of a perscription for a low dose of Inderal, many musicians use it for auditions and concerts. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: davetrow
Date: 2010-11-08 02:47
Larry Guy recommends an exercise involving miniature marshmallows to develop the light touch needed, as well as thinking not of lifting the fingers but having them "blown off" the tone holes.
Dave Trowbridge
Boulder Creek, CA
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: EEBaum
Date: 2010-11-08 03:24
Allow yourself to mess up. Make every performance about doing something cool with the music, and not about proving anything to anyone. Even (perhaps especially) if the purpose of the event is to prove something to someone, as in an audition.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: clarnibass
Date: 2010-11-08 04:32
I had that problem and it was very bad. What pretty much solved it was realizing I wasn't playing the music I wanted to play. When I started playing what I wanted it all disapeared except good excitement/nerves before concerts, etc. Worth mentioning, though maybe completely different from your situation.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2010-11-08 08:52
When you practice a hard part of a piece try nailing it about 5 plus times before you move on to another section. Continue doing this until you can play the whole piece 5 times or more without issue.
Often at auditions there are around 50 clarinet players auditioning. If you aren't prepared enough someone will beat you out, so your goal is to be the best there from strick practice habits and you will get the position.
Nerves usually effect most musicians. Sometimes your lips shake and you get that strange sound. Your hands can shake, legs, just about any part of your body. Also your hands can get cold. Run hot water on your hands. Nothing worse than playing a horn with cold hands.
The answer is to feel as though your are the very best there and practice in front of people. The more concerts and recitals you play the better you will have control over your nerves.
For auditions always have a few pieces under your belt. The best way to do this is practice audition pieces a few times a month. This alone can get rid of those nerves going into overdrive. Then a few weeks before your audition put in several hours of work.
The main thing to remember is everyone has the gitters at auditions, so the more you are prepared you have a much better chance that your nerves won't go into overdrive.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
