Overcoming stage fright

[Ekpes]

Greetings to all the organist in this great forum.please kindly share your experience on how you build up confident, and avoid stage fright before any performance including sunday service. Thanks

[Krummhorn]

One builds up confidence by being totally prepared ... having practiced sufficiently to assure that every piece that has been prepared for the Sunday service or Mass will go all according to plan.

The nervousness may never go away ... there is a certain anxiety, even for me after over 50 years of playing in church, just before playing that first note or chord. I never assume 'confidence' - I need to constantly work at that all the time, and that helps to keep me sharp and focused on what I am playing.

When playing a concert, I will always choose a piece that I've performed many times, something that I am very familiar with and can play well. This gets me 'warmed up' and in the correct playing position for the next works on the program.

I am my own worst critic ... I know when I have played well ... I can be very critical of myself. It may have sounded perfect to the casual listener, but if I'm not happy with something I did or didn't do, I will strive to correct it in my next practice session.

[wljmrbill]

Very well put Lars.... I remember the days when at times my right leg would shake so bad I was afraid I might be able to keep going..but as you say some of the so called : stage freight" does go away.. but I find I always have some jitters before I get going.. I have known many professional performers who say they always have jitters in the stomach or twitching until the first note begins.. I really think that makes us better performers myself.

[Soubasse]

stage freight

Sounds expensive that, freighting a whole stage

As for overcoming stage fright, well, Propranalol works quite well for me! Seriously, I used to get very nervous prior to performances, but less so these days and generally, it'll depend on how well I know the programme - if it's a programme I've not had sufficient time to prepare, I tend to be more nervous (and to be honest, a tad annoyed that I've not had enough time to pull it all together). For some reason, I'm often a little more nervous at weddings than I am at regular services, mainly because they're usually quite rushed and there always seems to be some last minute change that affects where I'm supposed to play certain things.

I always found it important before a recital (and still do) to ensure that I have some "down time" or quiet time just before the performance. Another thing I'd often do (when practical), was not to fully run any of the programmed works on the day, just a quick top-and-tail, and then during the quiet time, sit down with the scores and mentally play through them.

[Nikam]

Sometimes it helps to just allow yourself to enjoy what you're playing, but I'm not a recitalist!

[teddy]

I have never played in public, only sung and spoken, including readings for a service, but I agree about the preperation. You can not be overprepared. Also bear in mind the importance of what you are doing, and the fact that the majority of people will enjoy it, if not all of them. You are sharing something with them, and what can be better. Imagine that they are all your friends and are wishing you well. I find it helps. Good luck.

teddy

[GoneBaroque]

A prominent speaker was asked if he was nervous before addressing the audience. He replied
"just enough".

[Corno Dolce]

I wholeheartedly am in accord with Krummhorn. I will add that the more you perform the less you'll think about what causes stage fright and what you are going to do about it. After awhile it all becomes "automatic", i.e. your own body makes the "small" adjustments so that the problem is but a "quaint afterthought".

[methodistgirl]

You are not the only one who gets nervous when I play for the congregation. The church I go to now is a huge one where
the number can go as high as one thousand people watching and listening. To get rid of being nervous was to block out
what you see out there and pretend you are alone playing.
judy jennings

[dll927]

Stage fright is probably something one never quite gets over. It is said that Van Cliburn washed up as a concert pianist largely because he was so nervous in front of an audience. And no Steinway operates by itself.

It may be that many of the big names, especially in classical music, were gifted (?) with egos that overcame any tendency toward nervousness. Certainly, at least in days gone by, once they became a "name" it went to their heads enough that nothing bothered them. Do you suppose that Jascha Heifitz, for example, suffered from much nervousness? I doubt it. Vladimir Horowitz?? Forget it. Evern his wife (the daughter of Arturo Toscanini) thought she was God's gift to something. Call it ego, guts, or whatever, those people practically considered themselves royalty. Hey, folks, look what I can do!! That kind of attitude surely helps.

[chrishandoko]

may be it just a little sharing,
besides you must have enough practice, you can take a breath for a while before playing an organ or pray in a few minutes before your turn to play organ.it helps you to calm down and focus on what you'll play.
cheers,
chris

[Organiste]

My problem is not so much nervousness, but lack of focus. I am easily distracted by a small noise or a mistake---or a stray thought, like how my car didn't start that morning. Then I will do something dumb like forget where I am on the page. I try to remind myself constantly to stay focused on this musuc at this moment.

[Corno Dolce]

When you absolutely master the music in front of you i.e. have it memorized or practiced it so that you can't get it wrong, then all those "distractions" fall away by themselves.

[teddy]

Who has not driven home at some time but is unable to recall every step of the journey. CD is right, There us nothing like familiarity

teddy

[Corno Dolce]

A brief continuance:

You see: When you're "in the zone", just you and the music that you have lovingly prepared for performance everything else will seem trite and trivial. You have then entered into an intercourse that accepts no shortcuts - Like the intimacy one has with the one whom one Loves more than oneself. Music is a most jealous mistress - Love her and respect her........