It’s almost here!! Winterhalter Music’s Winter 2012 recital is just around the corner in 9 days. Yipee! I can’t wait.
As a kid growing up taking lessons, I had mixed feelings about recitals. I really looked forward to them, but at the same time, sometimes I also dreaded them.
I was excited to perform my piece(s) for others, but I got extremely nervous and worried that something could go wrong. Here’s the thing– with a live performance, you can’t predict what will happen. While I still get nervous performing today, my experience playing in countless performances over many years has given me an arsenal of tools to help curb those darn nerves that always manage to creep in.
Here’s what I suggest:
- Know your piece
If you know your piece, there is no reason to be nervous. Many times nerves come from the fear of “messing up”. If you know your piece very well, and have practiced and done the work to be ready, you won’t need to have that fear.
- Do even more practice recitals
Practicing performing allows you to get used to feeling nervous ahead of time. When those feelings come up during the actual recital, it won’t be the first time you’ve felt them, and there won’t be any need to freak out and think “what is this?” Practice recitals give you the opportunity to practice every portion of the recital– bows, what to do if you make a mistake, walking up and back, etc. Under stress, many students will forget to do something. The better the practice recitals go, the better the real recital will go. I guarantee it!
- Get a good night’s rest the night before
Your mind and body operate at their peak when well rested. It is crucial to get excellent sleep the night before a recital. This is not the time to have a sleepover.
- Eat a hearty meal and stay hydrated
In addition to rest, the body and mind need food and water for energy. Make sure to eat a good meal before your recital. If you are hungry, you may feel distracted, causing you to make mistakes that might not normally occur. Some of my previous teachers recommended eating bananas before performances, as a nutrient in them has been said to help dissipate nerves.
- Don’t over schedule yourself on recital day
While you may be tempted to go to every basketball game, horseback riding lesson, or holiday party occurring the same day as your recital, I would not recommend it. After all, you’ve been preparing for the recital for quite some time (maybe months). You will perform better and enjoy yourself more if you take it easy and relax on the day of your recital rather than cram every possible activity into your day.
- Realize that nerves will come in
It is quite rare for someone to feel no nervous energy before or while performing. When these sensations (butterflies in stomach, feeling like you have to go to the bathroom, shakiness, etc.) come in, just recognize that they are there and are a normal part of performing. You can say, “oh that’s nice. Thanks for stopping by”. Then just ignore them and keep playing. If you don’t get hung up on them, they may even give you an extra boost of adrenaline to make your piece sound really special.
Now I want to hear from you. What has worked for you to handle your nerves for a performance? Leave a comment below.
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Thanks for reading!
Sincerely,
Cassie
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