Dealing With Performance Anxiety

Your heart is beating fast. Your breathing is getting heavy. You begin to sweat and your hands begin to shake. Your face is turning pink and all you can think about are the worst-case scenarios. Your name is called, and a surge of fear strikes your heart. As you walk to the chair, room, or stage you will play on, you wonder what will happen if you crack a note or mess up a fingering. Will the judges ask you to leave? Will they shake their heads? What if you don’t make the All-Region Band? What if you don’t get into the Music Program at Tech?

These are the thoughts and feelings of many performers (including myself) before and during an audition. You spend hour upon hour preparing for this moment, and play poorly because you are nervous and mess up. This is so frustrating! You spent way too much time practicing for it all to be ruined in one moment because of nerves. This audition may determine lots of things, and you have just ruined your chances of success.

Here are some sure fire ways of dealing with performance anxiety, and ensuring your best success in an audition:

  
   1. The best way to feel secure during a performance is to practice like you are performing. While you are practicing the music, be thinking of the room you will be in, the audience you will play to, and the general atmosphere of the room. Every time you bring the horn to your face, pretend this is the audition. The practice you just had is exactly what the judges will hear. This way you will feel prepared, instead of taken by surprise on the day of the performance.

   
   2. Don’t over play the day before or the day of the performance. You want to sound your absolute best that day, so don’t blow your lip beforehand by over practicing. Also try to go to bed early, and eat healthy meals.

   
   3. Know your schedule and other details (like clothing) before the day of the audition. You do not need to have extra stress like worrying how you will get there, or wondering where that one pair of shoes are. The only thing you need to be focused on is the moment you walk through those doors and begin to play. Also know how you will present yourself (if you will introduce yourself, bow, etc.)

   
   4. Eat a banana an hour beforehand. It’s a beta blocker and will calm your nerves. (Some people actually take prescription drugs like beta blockers, but I’m not sure how I feel about that). Also have a water bottle with you so your throat doesn’t get dry (but be near a bathroom in case you drink too much- you do not need to be playing your horn on a full bladder!!!)

   
   5. Make sure you have a friend or two that know about this performance and are supporting you! I know getting a sweet text from a friend can remind you to calm down and make you feel a little more positive.

   
   6.Try not to feel negative throughout the day about your later audition. The mindset you have before will greatly affect your ability. If you believe you will mess up measure seven, then you will. Think positive and even encourage yourself in front of the mirror!

   
   7. Don’t give too much downtime before the performance. First of all, you won’t be as warmed up and your horn might be too cold. Second, you will give yourself too much time to think of all the worst things that could happen to you. Give enough time to focus and be ready, but not too much time to relax and lose focus or get nervous.

   
   8.  BREATHE! Honestly, before you play that first note, take a big breath and play with confidence. This first note may set up the success for the rest of the piece. The judges do not want to hear a wimpy sound or cracked first note. Remember that (hopefully) the audience just wants to hear music, which is what you (hopefully) want to do. The audience is on your side and generally wants you to do well! No one is rooting for your failure (and if they are…who cares what they think?)

   
   9. Let me emphasize again the importance of practicing. Don’t practice until you get it right, practice until you can’t get it wrong. This will be important in performing. You will feel prepared, and even if you are nervous, you will know the music and be able to play so well, it won’t even matter. 

   10.And finally, Remember why you are here. Sure, maybe it’s to get a job or make a chair, but ultimately, you are there to have fun and make music. It’s a beautiful thing. Don’t underestimate it.

Best of luck to you and your future auditions!