What do you think is the best relaxation method before playing at a concert?

[Ntalikeris666]

Title says all once more!

In my opinion, after having tried many things, i find best to concentrate and relax on your own before playing at a concert. Once you go on stage, i believe that in order for you to feel relaxed and most importantly enjoy what you play, you have to be determined and believe to yourself. By being feared of being on stage, you wont manage any of the above i believe.

Personally when i go on stage (Piano concerts mostly) i sit on the bench and i say inside me, "now it is you -the piano- and me".

I try to play without caring at that time what others in the audience might think of my playing (or in exams) and don't forget that we are humans and we make mistakes.

It would be nice to share any experiences you may have had, or say other methods of relaxing before or while playing.

Thanks,
Nicholas

[Corno Dolce]

What puts me most at ease is to say a prayer and to have practised the music so much so that I can't get it wrong.

[wljmrbill]

Sounds like good advise to me.

[Krummhorn]

One method I have used in the past is to find a quiet darkened room to sit in for about an hour before my performance. During that hour, I will eat a couple of bananas as they are high in potassium which help prevent leg cramps or the organist nightmare, the dreaded charlie-horse.

My concert program always begins with something very comfortable for me ... a piece that I have played hundreds of times ... as it puts everything "at ease". It also gives me a chance to get everything "adjusted" right (position, etc) for the ensuing pieces.

My "signature" here is my motto for preparing to play in public, even for my weekly church services.

[Ntalikeris666]

One method I have used in the past is to find a quiet darkened room to sit in for about an hour before my performance. During that hour, I will eat a couple of bananas as they are high in potassium which help prevent leg cramps or the organist nightmare, the dreaded charlie-horse.

My concert program always begins with something very comfortable for me ... a piece that I have played hundreds of times ... as it puts everything "at ease". It also gives me a chance to get everything "adjusted" right (position, etc) for the ensuing pieces.

My "signature" here is my motto for preparing to play in public, even for my weekly church services.

I see!

Yea, before any concert i usually a chunk of black chocolate. But I did not know the thing with the banana! ;-)

Well, when you get to arrange your concert program I think its all right, but in exams or in a concert in which you simply participate, you cant choose the order (most of the time) of the pieces.

Thanks for sharing,
Nick

[Ntalikeris666]

What puts me most at ease is to say a prayer and to have practised the music so much so that I can't get it wrong.

Especially the last part of your advice is efficient for sure! :P

[Montefalco]

Before the concert, I tend to go through the piece endlessly in my head, and pretend to play the piano on whatever flat surface happens to be handy. During a concert, I try to put the concert out of mind and concentrate on the piece.