Overcoming Stage Fright
Stage fright is completely normal, it’s something all of us have experienced in our lives. Even professional performers get stage fright! While you always may get a bit nervous before a recital, there a lots of ways to reduce performance anxiety and fear. It all stems from your mentality and preparation.
Be Prepared
I always tell my students, the better prepared you are for a performance, the less nervous you’ll be in general. All of the playing preparation should be done well in advance so you feel as confident and ready as possible to play in front of an audience. If you can practice reassuring yourself that you know the material, you can help relax your own brain.
Breathe
Practice taking deep breaths: inhaling for 3 seconds, holding for 3 seconds, and exhaling for 3 seconds. Simply doing this exercise while waiting for your turn in the show can help distract your brain and calm your nervous system.
Practice For Family or Friends
One of the best things you can do to prepare yourself for a performance is to practice playing your piece for family or friends. This gives you the chance to see what it’s like to get in the mindset of a performance. During our recital preparation, you’ll also have the chance to play your piece in from of guest listeners that I will bring into the studio. Playing your song in front of someone new will help recreate what the real experience will be like!
Change your Mindset
In the human body, fear and excitement often present with similar body symptoms: adrenaline, sweaty palms, racing thoughts, etc. You can reframe your mindset to tell yourself that you are excited, not terrified. The recital doesn’t need to be a negative threat, it can be a positive opportunity to share your creativity and skills.
Give Up Perfection
Sometimes we have a performance that doesn’t go how we wanted, but that is okay. Part of the learning experience includes making mistakes and pushing through the hard experiences. One mistake does not define an entire performance. You should feel proud that you accomplished such a big milestone.
