Stage Fright Problem Music related, I need to have my problem fixed by the 10th if possible...?

Question

I am going to a solo and ensemble competition on the 10th when I am to preform a solo on my trombone and I have the worst case of stage fright ever. Even before I get to whever I have to play by myself I start to get nervous, my heart begins to race and then I begin shaking to the point where my tone completely goes away. Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can get over this fear of playing by myself by the 10th? I know I can play the music well but most of the time, even when I can play the music perfect, my stage fright still kicks in.

Any suggestions are welcome. :) Thank you!

Answer 1

As a fellow trombone player, maybe I can help. You need to play LOUDER! It sounds so simple maybe even stupid, but I think it will help. I once was where you are now, and I wish I had taken this advice then. If you practice in a practice room, consciously think, "I want everyone to hear me." This is going to do 3 things for you:

1. You will pull yourself outside your comfort zone. By facing your fear when you practice, you'll move closer to overcoming your stage fright.

2. When you play loud (and use good air support), you will play with a fuller, richer tone. This will help cover any warbles in your tone if your nervous.

3. Loud for trombone equals confidence. The best trombone players I know will often play very loud and are very confident! Confidence will help you to overcome this fear.

Now if your playing loud and your tone is splitting and cracking, you need to use more air support. And to clarify, I'm not saying to ignore dynamics. I say play the softs at the same volume or even softer, but play the louds with gusto! Once you figure out the air support, everything will click.

You have 8 days, so practice and practice again louder. I wish you the best of luck.

Answer 2

You got some great answers there. Use that advice, especially the one about playing in front of people as much as you can. Get even just one person at a time and run your audition rep for them; Some time it helps to even do it twice in a row. The second time try to fix what went wrong the first time.

But all this is not going to make the nerves go away. As a professional musician I can tell you that the only thing you can do is learn how to embrace your nerves, live with them, control them, expect them. Don't freak out because you are nervous and let your concentration down. That's the danger! You know you are going to get nervous, use it to your advantage. Use the excitement to play more musically, more engaged.

The other thing is that your body can only produce adrenaline so long. It's designed to secrete a discharge and slowly calm down after that. So don't try to block your nerves (mentally) before the audition, 'cause then you will get it all at once once you are standing up there. Just let yourself get nervous!! It is OK. Get there early and feel it, get comfortable with it. By the time you have to go it will not catch you by surprise and it will not be so violent.

Hope this helps. Break a leg pal!

Answer 3

Stage Fright isn't something you can just get rid of, get a surgury and then take a little time to heal. Everyone has some form of stage fright, whether it be shaking, loss of breathe, or even freezing, the key is to just jump right in. Being the lead guitarist in my band, I had to get over stage fright quickly. Just don't think about anyone but yourself. Each time you practice, invite more and more people to hear you. The most important thing is though, to just let yourself soar. It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks, because they know they'd never have half the talent you have. They'll give you some respect. Think of it as skydiving. Once you jump off it's all up to you.

Answer 4

Honestly, there is no "fixing" stage fright. Think about having fun while you perform (and really, performing can be fun- you get to show off what you know and what you can do). Some nerves are good- it keeps your head out of the clouds. Keeps you focused. Here's something that many of my professors have told me (I'm a music major)- a BIG part of performance is acting. Act like you're confident. You're going to make mistakes- everyone does. It may be a mistake in interpretation or you could just hit a wrong note. If you do- DON'T WORRY! Keep going. Fake it- act like it didn't happen. Just concentrate on having fun. Think about watching classical musicians on TV. They don't look scared, right? They look like they're having fun- and that's why we like watching them. Just go for it and have a blast!! Bottom line- your life WILL NOT end if you don't win. Just try again. And if you do win- woo hoo!! (That statement has helped me. If I think "Oh goodness. I HAVE to win." I get too pressured. If I just go up there and think about having fun, I can relax more.)

Answer 5

practice. the more you do it the more comfortable you will feel. play, speak, act or what ever you do for 1 person until you can do it comfortably then add a couple of people and then add more. if you can do what ever it is perfectly in front of a few people you will be better able to do it just as well in front of a large group.
Try asking friends and aquaintances to sit in the audience and listen to you play on stage in the concert or recital hall you will be playing in. just being infront of people and on stage in that hall will make you way more comfortable when the time comes to play. And when you are in competition, close your eyes or look only at the music. imagine yourself in your house or in a practice room alone.

there is no quick fix, however you can besure to practice this infront of a large group of people who are almost ignorant about the subject, because if they don't know the information and you screw up, they won't be able to tell! it realieves a lot of pressure and builds confidence.

Answer 6

Having performed on stage myself it's completely normal to get butterflies in your stomach. It's when you don't get a little bit nervous means your too over-confident and that's when the problems really start. When I first started out I would pick a spot or a person in the crowd/room and that would be my focus (don't pick a family member). Take a few deep breathes before entering on the stage and pretend you are playing to that one person/spot. The other suggeston is to picture everyone in the crowd nude but don't laugh out loud! Have faith in yourself and the good Lord above, evrything will be fine. As they say in showbusiness break a leg. Hope this helps you.

Answer 7

Find as many opportunities as you can before that time to play in front of people!!

Also - ask your musician friends for the name of a doc who can prescribe a beta blocker like propranolol (brand name inderal) that is used prn for stage-fright (blocks that adrenaline rush temporarily). But try it out before the big day, so you will know if it has any use for you.

But definitely play in front of others (volunteer at a nursing home, go to an open mic, whatever - even in front of just a couple of people), but the more times, and the more people the better. Its called systematic desensitization..

Good luck!!

.

Answer 8

Practice in front of people as much as you can. Also, when I would go to solo and ensemble I used to find a very quiet room or hallway. I would sit there with my eyes closed and think through my music. I don't know if you are religious or not...but, I would also pray for comfort during my performance. Remind yourself that you have done all you can.

Good luck at the contest!!!!

Answer 9

I think I have the answer you're looking for! When I used to get stage fright, I learned to pretend to be someone else! Be the person who plays the best trombone you've ever heard! Act like him or her, move like him or her, blow like him or her---- everything they do while you're on stage. Really, I want you to try it. If you can, let me know how it works for you. Break a leg! I have a feeling you'll be great!

Answer 10

Someone suggested beta blockers. If you're adverse to taking pills for stage fright (some are some aren't), try eating a banana about an hour or so before your performance. Bananas are reported to have a similar enzyme in them which calms the autonomic "fight or flight" response.

Of course, since you play a wind instrument, don't forget to brush your teeth after eating the banana and before playing! ;)