how to not stress out at competition?

Question

how do you do it?



i have district competition friday for band. in august, we were given 3 pieces, and we have to play selected parts of them in front of judges. the judges are behind a curtain so it is confidential.

my problem is playing in front of my peirs, i can play fine in front of my teachers, but not my peirs. im a freshman, so i twords the bottom of the line. i know my music, but i get so nervous it sounds so bad, ive been to district before, but failed miserably, when i should have done better.

Answer 1

Well, the most simple solution is to play in front of your peers and ask for constructive feedback...feedback on what was good/needs improvement without putting you down.

When you are playing, picture yourself in a situation where you are comfortable, or even picture playing SUPER well in front of the judges. You can even do this on your own...play through your entire piece non-stop as there no "do-overs" with auditions. I would even recommend playing through ALL of your repretory for the audition several times in a row w/o stops between now and Friday so that you will have the stamina to play them without totally tiring out. Plus, you'll have a better sense on what to do, where to regroup (which i'd HIGHLY recommend that you mark those spots inthe music), etc in case something does go wrong. Don't shoot for a perfect performance, shoot for a very good one. The reason I say this is because perfection doesn't exist and that perfection takes the fun out of making music.

Good luck with your audition

Answer 2

My daughter just participated in junior high all-region band competition about 2 weeks ago (playing french horn). Same type of set-up. Judges were behind a curtain. She kind of went in as an underdog, because she's only in 7th grade. I don't know about where you are, but 7th graders rarely make it here. Anyway, to make a long story a little shorter, she made it...... but the girl in our school who has the reputation of being the best french horn player our school has ever seen didn't. The difference.... the 8th grader choked in front of the judges (as did many other very talented students) and my daughter didn't. Several students asked my daughter how she just goes in there without being nervous. Here is her response: "For one thing, I practice like crazy to make sure I'm confident that I know what I going there to perform. Plus, I stay after school to play for the band director every week, so I'm used to playing in front of someone. But then, I just go in and tell myself it's just another practice. There's really nothing different between this and playing for my director. It's just different people."

I hope that helps. Personally, (I've played in several piano competitions & recitals) I get in a "zone." I get away from people before I perform. I don't talk to anyone at all. I get completely focused on my music......NOT on the judges. (I also make sure I'm absolutely prepared. My college teacher once told me that if I can't lay in bed and see the music in my head and imagine my hands playing it, then I don't know it well enough for a performance yet.)