I always like to play the flute. Everytime I play for a competition, or try out for something, I always get nervous. Like when I play the flute in a competition and I get nervous, I always play really fast and sloppy with the notes. And when I try out for stuff--like last year I tried out for Flag Cor. for my school's marching band, I got so nervous and dropped the flag. What can I do to overcome my nervousness??
2006-08-26 16:45:26 · 16 answers · asked by Britney♥ 4 in Health ➔ Mental Health
The only thing you have to fear is fear itself. So try practicing in front of people. The more you practice, the more confident you become. gradually increase the number of people you're practicing in front of; then when you try out or go to competition, it's a piece of cake cause you have nothing to fear. Practicing in front of people even if you have to practice on the street corner.
2006-08-31 23:55:44 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Concentrate on the task at hand. Everyone gets nervous.
Once I had to give a speech in front of a big crowd, I too, was soo nervous that I thought would screw it up. So, I found a spot at the corner of the room to concentrate on and started speaking. In no time, my confidence came and I began to look people in the face around the room and my fear was gone. I received a great applause at the end, too.
So, you should imagine success and it will come true. Say to yourself "The whole thing is going to go well," OK?
You only think positive thoughts, not ones about screwing up.
2006-09-01 18:21:43 · answer #2 · answered by randyrich 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have the same problem. I get awful performance anxiety. The answer is, practice, practice practice. You need to perform for people as much as possible. Eventually, you will learn for yourself how to perform despite feeling as nervous as you do. I learned this because I was a music major in college, and my particular program required me to perform in public at least twice every semester, often more. Eventually I just felt nervous as hell, went out there, and played pretty well anyway. I learned my nervousness didn't have to stop me from delivering a good performance.
2006-09-02 15:55:42 · answer #3 · answered by τεκνον θεου 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When we are anxious,it means that our body is responding to a perceived threat. A long time ago, when our ancestors roamed the savannahs, our only defenses were fighting or fleeing. When we feel anxiety, our body pumps adrenaline into the bloodstream making our heart beat faster, our palms sweat, etc., responses that once helped us when we needed a lot of energy in response to threat. However, as you have found, more energy is not useful in a flute competition!
Meditation could help you learn to relax yourself in these situations, but medications called beta-blockers (e.g., Inderal) will block the effect of adrenaline and are often used by actors who experience stage fright.
2006-08-26 16:55:55 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are a natural person you should try cognitive behavioral therapy. It was the only thing that has helped me with my horrible health anxiety. Read here https://tr.im/UQKfa
Your thinking determines your quality of life. Your thinking is what causes you these feelings:
Anxious, fearful, stressed or depressed
Constantly worried, or angry about something that is happening in your life
Struggling to overcome obsessive and negative thoughts.
If you change your thinking, you will change your life. This is the basic idea behind CBT for anxiety. The Cognitive part is where you learn nee methods and ways to change your same old habits and thinking patterns. If you keep thinking and expecting the worst – You will continue to suffer.
2016-02-10 20:57:42 · answer #5 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nervousness can actually help to enhance performance; it excites us. But, it has to be handled differently. When we think in terms of physiology (heart rate, skin response, breathing rate), nervousness and excitement are one in the same. My heart beats fast when I am nervous and when I am excited. But, the difference is the MEANING that I attach to that feeling. That is why some people can ride roller coasters and others cannot. Those that can ride them interpret the body responses as excitement, and those that cannot ride them interpret their body responses as nervousness (fear).
With that in mind, here are two things you can try:
1. Before you are expected to perform tell yourself, outloud even, that you are so excited to perform. Even tell others, call up a friend and tell them how excited you are that you are going to perform. Jump up and down and say "I'm excited that I am going to perform."
2. Arrive early to your performance site and sit calmly somewhere. Close your eyes and envision yourself performing calmly and with confidence. Really walk yourself through the performance in your mind from beginning to end. Imagine all the people watching you with amazement from your performance. Imagine a special person going up to you at the end and saying, "That was great!"
Remember, that a bit of nervousness is actually a good thing in performance, it excites us. Also, with practice, one builds the confidence one needs to perform well. So, look at each performance as a practice to your next performance.
Hope that helps.
2006-08-31 15:59:23 · answer #6 · answered by Gabriel 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Visualize yourself sitting in the audience watching youself playing the flute on stage. See how confident you are and how well you are playing in the competition. Look around and see all the people enjoying your performance. Remember that visual when you get onstage to perform. Good luck!
2006-08-26 17:46:20 · answer #7 · answered by sidnee_marie 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
being nervous in a competition is normal. but being overcome by nervousness is sad. the problem lies in losing your concentration.
just do your best and never be bothered by anything. who are they anyway? don't think about stuff like "what if i get lost with the notes?" "what will the audience think about my peformance?"
you may need to have a few friends around or family members when you're rehearsing. don't be shy to perform in front of them. you need to get used to it. be comfortable.
good luck to ya
2006-09-02 03:44:31 · answer #8 · answered by di_ako_guapo 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
slow down and just do what you know how to do. Don't think of it as preforming or even trying out think of it as something you love to do that you do well. I like to sing. I am chosen a lot to do solos. I just practice and then when it is time to really do the song I take a deep breath and sing. I get nervous after I preform. I wish you good show and do not think to hard about it.
2006-08-26 16:53:22 · answer #9 · answered by memorris900 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Have more faith in yourself, relax, and just have fun, if you win you win, just relax and have a great time. Try not to think of it as a must win situation. Competitions are not be made to make you nervous, they should just bring out the best in us. So good luck. Do it because you like to do it, don't think of losing, ok?
2006-09-03 01:17:28 · answer #10 · answered by spiritcavegrl 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋