Upcoming concert giving you goosebumps? Here are a few tips on how to avoid those heebie-jeebies!
As a musician, it’s almost a guarantee that you’ll give a performance at least once in your musical career. These performances can be formal or casual—they may occur in a large hall full of people or in the living room in front of several family members or friends . Big or small, performing can be a scary thing, especially when you’re new to the music world. In this post we’ll be exploring some tips to help you successfully prepare for a formal concert, though you may find some of these suggestions helpful for informal performances as well.
As we’ve discussed in previous posts, nerves are a fact of life. Most musicians have dealt with them at some point or another, and many still experience performance anxiety even after playing their instrument for many years. There are some things you can do, however, to prepare. And preparation will definitely help alleviate a bit of that stress! Read on!
Try and get access to your performance space beforehand and test it out
Each space is a little different when it comes to music. It’s a huge benefit to practice in your performance venue so that you aren’t surprised by things like lights, extraneous noises, spacing…any of that stuff! Decide where you will stand/sit. Are the lights really bright or extra colorful? Does stage feel super hot or cold? How does your instrument sound in the space? The larger the hall, the more loudly you’ll likely need to play unless microphones are involved. If you’re a pianist, or someone who will be playing an instrument provided by the venue, test it out. You really don’t want the first time you play a new instrument to be during your performance! How is the touch? Are the pedals further away that you’re used to? How will you set the bench? It’s even helpful to practice walking onstage and bowing so that you know what to do on the day of the event. If you aren’t able to visit the venue before concert day, make sure to arrive early so you can go through some of these steps before showtime.
2. Make Performance Decisions before concert day
Will you be playing from memory? Will you be standing or sitting when you perform? Make these decisions early and practice them! If you plan to perform standing and usually sit to practice, or vice versa, don’t forget to change it up during practice sessions. How will you stand or sit—what will you do with your feet? If you’re a singer, how will you position your arms? What facial expressions will you use? If you’re using music, will you need someone to turn your pages? Is there a required dress code? I know I’ve run into issues with not deciding in time what I’m going to wear and having to scramble to find something appropriate a day or so before the event. It’s helpful if you know at least a week before what you will need so that you have time to make sure you have it. Ask your teacher in advance what their recommendations or requirements are. Think about all parts of your outfit: shoes, pants, socks, nylons, dress, shirt, jacket, tie…will you wear glasses or contacts? How will you fix your hair so that it doesn’t get in your way? If you plan to wear shoes that might be different from your normal ones, it’s a great idea to practice whilst wearing them…especially if they’re heels. Pianists use their feet to play the pedals and I know from experience the technique is different when wearing heels. Do your sleeves get in the way of your playing? Is your jacket too tight to breathe properly when it’s buttoned? Especially if you’re new to performance, try and think of everything that might be different so that you don’t get thrown off by small things. Wear your performance outfit during a practice session—does it feel good to move in that dress? How are those pants fitting when sitting down?
3. Practice your performance from beginnng to end
One of the biggest differences between practice and performance is the need to play an entire piece without stopping. This can be hard, especially if it’s your first time. It’s essential to practice a full performance and do the best you can not to stop. Have a family member or friend listen to you, and practice playing the whole piece just like you plan to in performance. You can even practice bowing before and after you play just to make sure you don’t forget and that it looks natural. Bowing can be tricky—many teachers are particular about how to bow, so if you aren’t sure go ahead and ask! How will you handle your instrument and/or music when bowing? What about your hair or hands? Facial expression? Audience eye contact? Though these details appear to be small, they can seem really huge when you’re in front of other people. That’s why it’s really necessary to think through and practice all of it early and often so that performance etiquette becomes second nature. The more you practice, the easier it will be!
3. lay everything you will need out the night before the concert
Few things add more to stress levels than not being able to find what you need and showing up late to a performance event. This is one of the easiest ways to eliminate some pre-concert anxiety—find and set out absolutely everything you will need for your performance the night before. And I do mean EVERYTHING! Find your music, your instrument, any instrument accessories (reeds, cork grease, valve oil, rosin, drum sticks, guitar picks…anything at all that you could possibly need), tissues, chapstick, water bottle, shoes, clothes, makeup, hair stuff (clips, elastics, brushes, curlers, hair-ties, etc.), cough drops, purse or bag. Get everything prepared, laid out, and/or packed up and ready to go. Should you follow these suggestions, when it rolls around to performance time, you’ll be all set with no need to panic!
Hopefully these tips will give you the confidence you need to kick those nerves to the curb. Things may still happen during a concert that can’t be planned or prepared for (that’s live performance for you!) but if you do all you can beforehand to get ready, then the likelihood of your performance going off without a hitch is far greater. Keep calm and play on!
—Charissa Garrigus, Instructor at Vibe Music Academy
