How do I get over the fear of playing a solo?

Question

My band is going to contest tomorrow and I have a oboe solo to play. When I first got my solo, I didn't want to play it because I was scared but eventually I got used to playing it in front of people. Now we are going to contest and not only do I have to play it in front of people but also judges. I am really scared. I have been sick all week and haven't really got to practice. What if my reed breaks or what if I mess up and it causes our band to do bad? I'm freaking out. Any advice?

In case you wanted to know, the song with the solo in it is called "Sun Dance" by Frank Ticheli

Answer 1

Whatever happens happens, but give it your all and you won't have regrets, but possibly even more motivation.

Try to stop worrying about little things like your reed breaking, just make sure you practice enough and the music flows how it's supposed to, and if you have a technical difficulty, you can't blame yourself.

Answer 2

Calm down.

Whenever I play as a soloist, I do multiple things

1) I can't stress this enough. Practice, practice, practice. Memorize it. (I've had violinist friends who have been playing solos, did not have it memorized, and their music fell off the stand. Whoops). Know your solo so well you can play it in your sleep (not literaly)

2) Perform your solo in front of peers. You recieve the most pressure to perform well from your peers, so if you can play your solo in front of them, the rest of the audience should be easy. btw, the first concert I had ever done with an orchestra was when I was in grade school, in front of 800 peers and teachers I knew. I got through just fine.

3) Don't look at the audience. I concentrate on the back wall of the concert hall, sometimes even forgetting the audience is there. Pretend it is just a rehersal, this helps you focus on making music.

4) Enjoy yourself. If music is no fun, why do you play? Just do your best. I have messed up MANY times in performances (including snapping a string in the middle of a recital), but unless it is really big, the audience well barely notice, and the judges will barely care. When I judge, I often look for expression, musicality, and enjoyment just as much as technicality.

With solos, it gets easier the more you perform. In the future, try and get as much exposure as possible.

Good luck.

Answer 3

Don't focus too much on what people will think about you. Go to contest with an attitude--you know you've got what it takes and you're going to show the judges what you're made of. Make sure you get enough sleep, drink something hot before you go, and don't focus on what *could* go wrong.

Stage fright is not something you can just shoo away, I'm afraid. I've relatively gotten over my fear by practicing in front of other people as much as I can.

And now, my parting advice is to imagine the judges in their underwear. :)

Answer 4

More than anything, don't think about the audience - think about making MUSIC. If you can do that, you will be too interested in the tone and quality of your sound to worry about onlookers.

I'm a pianist, but if I hadn't learned piano early on, I'd have loved to learn the oboe - it has such a beautiful sound!

Answer 5

Imagine u r playing solo in front of ur mirror

Answer 6

put on your big girl panties and play, already. Why do you play? Who are you playing for? Hopefully the answers are, because you like it, and for yourself. So remember that you're doing what you love to do because it makes you happy, and quit worrying about hat everyone else thinks.

Answer 7

practice alot in front of the mirror

Answer 8

it's not bad. i've done it before. it aint hard. nothing's hard as long as you're not afraid.