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Here we go again. I know my piece cold. I can play it hands alone, with slow metronome or with blazing speed. I have spent many hours polishing it and deciding what the dynamics will be. And what happens when I show up to play it at group class in front of a group of 20 people in the comfort of my teacher's basement? This time, I actually paid attention to what was freaking me out during the performance. The piece has a main melody line that is easy to play and very forgiving. And it has five alberti bass sections that are very challenging for me, plus they need to be loud to contrast with the main melody. I started off fine with the easy melody. But then I kept hesitating before the hard parts, which gives you an awkward rhythm break. And I got hung up in the middle of two of the five hard parts and had to start those parts over. I would make a mistake, and the sections are so fast and hard and loud that I can't really jump back into the middle of them. But for some reason, the last three hard parts went great. Regarding nerves, it wasn't the shaky hands problem this time. It was like I had to fight through a dull buzzing in my ears or something. Made it very hard to concentrate, what with the tunnel vision and all. So. Here's my question. What can I do to get this puppy whipped into shape for next week? I need to get the hard parts way more secure so I can recover should I make a mistake in the middle, and slow metronome (which usually works) isn't working. Well, the bright side is that my teachers say I am doing it with enough speed. So at least I don't have to worry about that.
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practice backwards, measure by measure... slowly and repetitively.. measure 30- 4 times... measure 29-4 times, etc. It makes every measure independently known and solid so if you do make a mistake the next measure will more likely start on the correct note..
I learned that trick from Jodi.
(sure wish I was practicing ... it's tv nite...)
accompanist/organist.. a non-MTNA teacher to a few
love and peace, Õun (apple in Estonian)
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Don't play the easy parts at all for a few days... just concentrate on the sections that are giving you trouble, even if it's just a measure or a chord change. "Reward" yourself by playing the entire piece through at the end of a practice session.
When you play the entire piece, think only about the dynamics and melody line... really bring it out and think about getting it to sound right. Singing or humming along also helps. If you're concentrating on the sound of the piece, you won't be worrying about playing the notes and you probably won't sound mechanical. Also, humming (quietly) can be quite relaxing, might remove the buzzing sound from your ears, and will often add a nice melodic feel to your playing.
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So did you want comments performance anxiety and nervousness, or just preparation tips? (Sorry Cindy, your post confused me) Apple's suggestion is a really good one. Another thing I sometimes do is have my husband try to distract me, for example while I'm playing, he'll drop something or cough etc at random points, so I can see what happens when I get distracted at different spots. If you are worried about nerves, I might be able to make a few comments. I have all the different nervousness responses at my fingertips at all times and I've practiced so much that I can perform piano-panic any time, anywhere, no sheet music required!
Started piano June 1999. Proud owner of a Yamaha C2
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ShiroKuro, it was confusing because it was just an anxiety-based *rant!* Apple, I just tried the measure by measure thing, and it did seem to help. Nina, I'm going to try the humming -- I'm at the point where I'll try anything. I asked my teacher (no time to wait for lesson!), and the suggestion was to play the thing many octaves far apart, which will help "throw" me and also reinforce memory. And also play it hands crossed. Yikes! Man. I have some work to do. I think the problem here is that I learned this piece much more quickly than usual because I'm getting better, and my memory isn't as secure as I think it is. You guys are great! Therapy for free!
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I don't have anything to offer except emotional support.
Support our troops!
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Got it Cindy! Rant away!
Here are some thoughts about nerves:
Argh!! Ugh!! Ick!! Help!! Why can't I control my hands?!!! Why can't I control my brain?!! Why is everything suddenly bright-white as if I stuck my head into the sun?!!! Somebody save me!!!!
no wait, let's start again.
I have had a few awful experiences in recitals where my nervousness ruined everything and I wanted to die, and I have had two fantastic experiences where even though I was a little nervous, I didn't feel like I was coming apart, and in being able to play through/in spite of the nerves, I enjoyed the recital so much that I walked on air for months afterwards. (I have also had a lot of more in between recitals, not too bad but not all that great either)
In thinking about what the difference is in these two types of experiences, and why the nerves can be so all consuming, I came up with some of the following ideas.
1) Piano playing is really important to me. It's important to me that I play well, esp when I invite people to come and hear me and I really want to share the music with them.
2) The comments in number one are things I can take seriously, and just because I am a "hobby-pianist" doesn't mean I can't take my piano playing seriously. Professional pianists pamper themselves, and to the extent that it's possible, so should I. It's ok, even good for me to do special things leading up to a recital and to take time for myself to keep my composure. For example I try to give myself time for calming walks in the week before the recital. If I'm playing last (often the case!) I find a place to rest during the recital, to get some water, to keep my hands warm etc.
3) I do not have to rush. I can adjust the piano bench as long as it takes. Everyone will wait. I can sit in front of the piano and take a deep breath. I can smile, but I don't have to.
4) If I really have a bad time of it, I can stop and start over, and I can apologize and give a little laugh if that helps (as opposed to looking at my feet for a full minute or panicking etc). No one will care if I have to do this, they will understand.
5) People can't hear even a quarter of the mistakes I hear, and they hear a lot of good parts that I overlook. I am my own worst critic, and since I actually like my playing, which is why I am here, then I must be even better than I think I am!
6) Going back to number one, I do want to play well, but the world will not end if I don't. And I will not give up the piano just because of a major recital-accident, so I will try to keep the balance between caring and taking myself seriously and not caring too much or taking myself too seriously.
7) I will breathe, walk to the piano and sit down. Then the music will breathe, and it will come out of me however it comes, and when it's over, I will get up, bow, and everyone will clap. It is the height of simplicity, and no matter what else happens, the beginning and end will follow that same course, All I need to worry about is being there, in that moment. -------- I don't know if any of that is helpful to anyone else, but there it is for what it's worth. I'll write more later about all the quirky things I do that I think help me avoid a total stage-fright experience (like pepto-bismal, walking etc)
Good luck Cindy! Break a finger as it were! You'll be great! And all the positive energy of PW is here cheering for you and waiting for our turn to clap!
Started piano June 1999. Proud owner of a Yamaha C2
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Personally, I recommend four or five margaritas before the recital. Then, if you make mistakes, people will can at least say you did well for as drunk as you were.
Doug
"The secret to staying calm in a crisis is not having all the facts."
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I can relate of course and it looks like you've already gotten some pretty good advice. So good I plan on using it myself the only thing I can add is that if you have any say in performance order I try to go earlier vs later, I find if I can go 1st or 2nd I don't have as much time to get anxious and that definitely helps the nerves but haven't found anything that gets rid of it all together.
Cathy
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Originally posted by dgoddard2: Personally, I recommend four or five margaritas before the recital. Then, if you make mistakes, people will can at least say you did well for as drunk as you were.
Doug There's Doug, always the pragmatist. It's really a win-win situation. If the margaritas relax you and you play well, then you're a winner. If you boot the recital, you blame it on the alkyhol, and you're still a winner (as long as you have a designated driver). Of course, I believe Cindy mentioned in another thread that a pitcher of margaritas would wipe her out. Maybe she should have a cosmopolitan instead.
markb--The Count of Casio
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I played the piece for family last night, following several glasses of wine.
Let's just say I played it about as competently as I would be able to drive after several glasses of wine!
Shiro, I'll definitely have to psyche myself up better. I'll try some of what you suggest. When's your next recital? Why do you have to go last?
Cindy -- who usually goes somewhere around the middle of the recital line-up
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Cindy-- my teacher (who performs a LOT) says just "not to worry" about nerves. I'm assuming you aren't talking about shut-down-the-system panic attacks, but basic stage fright. His view: everyone gets nervous, he has never had a performance where he wasn't nervous and it's just part of the package. Don't let it throw you, just figure that it's part of the deal and don't focus on it. Breathe, take your time, and take a few seconds at the beginning of the piece to mentally hear the first few measures of your piece. The nervousness is just another sensation, like feeling the a/c or adjusting the bench. That said, I haven't tried it yet myself!
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Hey, Nina,
I just had my lesson. I decided to try some the things folks here had suggested to calm nerves, but without telling my teacher what I was up too.
First, I played the piece humming in my head. It went so badly (lots of pauses while I tried to remember what came next) that my teacher actually asked me if something was wrong! I cheerfully confessed I had tried humming. We mutually agreed that the humming wasn't a good plan for me.
Then I tried focusing on dynamics only. It went quite well, without any little hitches or indecision. At the end, she marveled at how musical it was. So that will be my plan -- think dynamics and only dynamics.
Anyway, we worked on many different things to improve memory and confidence. One useful exercise is that she played along with me on her digital piano. That was a nice way to improve focus and concentration.
I have to perform it on Saturday and on Sunday this week. I'd better go hit it, huh?
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This will probably be unhelpful, but I think the best thing to do is to try to convince yourself that it doesn't matter if you make mistakes. Try not to worry about what people will think of you and you'll be relaxed and play as well as you do at home.
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Here is a Student's first Recital Poem I came across.
The Piano Recital
I sit in the back row, my heart beating fast. Oh, how I wish this moment was past. The people before me have already gone. I walk to the stage, scared and alone. All eyes turn towards me as I sit down to play. I remind myself that this is my day. So I take a deep breath and play the first note, Even though my heart is stuck in my throat. I manage to finish Piece 1 and Piece 2 But when I get to Piece 3, I don't know what to do. I wipe off my hands and plunge head. Hey! I made it! I did it! And I'm not dead. I turn to the crowd and quickly bow. I actually did it, but I don't know how. Maybe next year I'll play my pieces with ease, But for now I just smile and walk to my seat.
Remember to relax and Don't forget the bananas.
Please excuse me. I have to go practice
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Cindy, at my piano school, I am the adult student who has been playing the longest (although recently a woman who is a returner joined, maybe she can go last next time!) So I usually get put near then end of the program, and then recently it's been second to last or last. Once it was not a problem (the best recital performance I've ever had,) but in general I don't like it and for our May recital I am going to ask to be put in a different place, maybe even first! (Of course, then my teacher says it's hard for others to play after me.. geez, I suck just as bad as everyone else! pamper me too!) You still have a few more days before the recital, whenever you practice picture in your head that you're playing in the recital and try to do that visual/mental training where you play it all out in your head and you are relaxed and having fun. I agree with Ballyhoo, the thing I try to aim for is not a flawless performance. That's so fragile, as soon as it's not flawless the whole thing falls apart. Instead, I want to just accept everything that happens without being distracted or upset by it. So I expect to make some mistakes, what I want to happen is for me not to have so much nervous anxiety that it destroys me completely. I try to bring the piece into the front of my head before I start playing, and while I play I try to keep my focus on me, the notes, the keyboard, not the people, the mistakes, the butterflies. In the days before the recital, consider walking instead of whatever your usual exercise routine is. If you do do a high-powered, aerobic or energetic type of exercise, be sure to end with a really calm, relaxing thing that you do for at least 10 minutes. the point is to create calmness in your physical body through movement, with the hope that that physical calmness will extend into mental/emotional calmness. Being relaxed isn't something that just happens all of a sudden, it has to be a part of your body and in a way, a part of your life. I also try to avoid caffeine, although I can't live without that morning cup! I make sure I'm not hungry but I don't eat to the point of being full. I often take an antacid or pepto-bismal to calm my stomach, and I make sure I have lots of water in the days before the recital. I think bananas and fish are very good too. On recital day, I don't drive to the recital, and I try not to carry anything or do anything that would "tire" me out (those darn handbags!) I try to stretch in the morning, and if there's time, take a walk on the morning of the recital. I try not to make too big of a deal out of it, but at the same I want to think of it as a special day and let myself enjoy the nerves because I think that's more effective than trying in vain to get rid of the nerves. Oh, and if you haven't already, be sure to have a full dress rehearsal with your recital clothes and shoes. Have your family members gather together, have someone introduce you, walk to the piano, bow and all that. Go through the whole recital routine without stopping, act as if it's the real day. But don't do this on the day *before* the recital, make it at least a day or two in advance. Also, have you read Chang's book and his comments about slow-play on the day before a recital? I've not tried that, but I may for my next recital. Sorry if I'm going on too long here. My signature is not a joke, so this post is as much for me as it is for Cindy and other PW folks! Enjoy yourself Cindy, we all are doing this because we want to, make it fun and relaxed and then send that fun/relaxed energy to me!
Started piano June 1999. Proud owner of a Yamaha C2
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Ok, I have a really stupid question, as most of my questions are: Why do adults take part in recitals if doing so causes so much dread and anxiety?
markb--The Count of Casio
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Originally posted by markb: Ok, I have a really stupid question, as most of my questions are: Why do adults take part in recitals if doing so causes so much dread and anxiety? Actually, I was wondering the same thing myself. Doug
"The secret to staying calm in a crisis is not having all the facts."
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Fair question. For me, I wanted to do it for several reasons: 1. My kids play recital, so I should set a good example by playing. 2. It's difficult, and I hate to shrink from a challenge. If I stop doing recitals, the nerves will have won. 3. One reason I wanted to play piano in the first place was to do sing-alongs. My extended family does this a lot, and I'd like to be on piano someday (since I can't sing). I can't be the accompianist pounding out holiday songs if I'm shaking with fear. Also, my musically-gifted brother-in-law says his weekend, just-for-the-fun-of-it band needs a keyboardist, so that's another reason. 4. There are some things you can't do at all if you can't/won't perform. Masters' classes are an example. Also, my teachers put on an adult piano camp in Europe. I'd like to go (I don't think I'm good enough yet), but I would certainly need to be comfortable playing in front of others before I could participate. 5. Most importantly, it *bites* to be afraid to play when others are around. Someone comes over for dinner and asks you to play something, and you go all to pieces because you can't deal with nerves? 6. My willingness to get up on the recital tightrope has had a certain positive trickle down effect. At first, I was nervous playing for my teacher. Then this improved, and I got better playing for the group class. Then this improved, and I got better at recital. I figure if I stick with it, I'll get past performance anxiety eventually. Besides . . . you get a rush. And at my age, it ain't easy to get a rush!
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I suck on mints. It helps to have a bit of something to concentrate on other than your performance and the audience.
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Piano
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Piano
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