Playing under stress or tension

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Playing under stress or tension

Melvin Llord (Admin)
- 550 posts
May 25, 2011 8:14:56 AM EDT

Have any of you played in a gig on which you are so stressed out or tense that its hard to focus? If so, what technique or strategies to you use to get in control before if affects your performance?

I usually try to clear my mind for 5-10 minutes before my performances and not think about music at all. I try not stress out about making mistakes or screwing up. This actually works for me. The stress can be caused by many things. Personal problems, too much work, health issues but the worst is when you don't feel confident that you know the repeirtore 100%.

Whether I am 100% prepared or not, I think forgetting about music 10 minutes before perfoming does work for me. I do care about putting on a good performance, but dont care "too much"? Does it make sense to any of you? I just dont like to overthink or I feel its worst!

I am curious to see what you guys think about this. Please share you thoughts/ideas!

This post was edited by Melvin Llord (Admin) at May 25, 2011 8:22:54 AM EDT
Valerie Gillespie
- 23 posts
May 25, 2011 9:04:59 AM EDT

Good thought about being prepared... that is really the key, but sometimes, I've found that even though I have prepared, I let other things stress me out (like if someone hits the record button on their video camera, or worse yet, their PHONE). then I just have to got into my Zen mode. Music is beautiful, people love it, and they are there to hear what I have to say... So I just find someone in the audience with a smile on their face, and play directly to them. Then I have more fun, then they have more fun, and on and on. Seems silly, but it works EVERY time!
Valerie Gillespie
- 23 posts
May 25, 2011 12:09:17 PM EDT

Oh, and I forgot to mention that breathing helps! When you get stressed, the first thing that happens is your breathing gets shallow. And if your body isn't getting enough oxygen, it won't work properly. So I make myself take several deep breaths, being sure to relax my 'stomach' area. Then I relax and breathe normally, then do it again. THEN I look for the smiling person in the audience, and play directly to them!
Melvin Llord (Admin)
- 550 posts
May 25, 2011 4:49:09 PM EDT

Absolutely!! I like to get a breather before playing always! It makes a huge difference.

I also realized that when I'm under stress, I play a lot busier and rush the phrases, which is something that at least I am aware now and try to work on!
Christopher Mickel
- 133 posts
May 31, 2011 3:52:08 PM EDT

I find that the more you perform, the more relaxed you are when you perform. Experience makes things easier. I still get more nervous when performing classical music than I do when performing jazz.

When I was younger I would get really REALLY nervous. But anymore, I am much more relaxed plus many years ago I really screwed up on a performance and once I realized that is wasn't as big a deal as I though it would be so after that I was much more relaxed and much less nervous.

Of course some performances are more stressful than others. I am speaking in general terms. the more relaxed you can be the better you perform.

I find recording to be more stressful than performing. It's like driving with the police behind you.