Common Challenges and Solutions for Beginning/Intermediate
Players
Part 2 - Confidence in playing for other people.
Music is meant to be
shared. Even if you never want to
perform on stage, someone – sometime - will ask you to play something for them.
Kids often seem to have no fear, but as adults, we know how we want our music
to sound and we can be very hard on ourselves when we don’t meet our standards
for ourselves.
THESE APPROACHES REALLY
WORK, QUICKLY & DRAMATICALLY!
(These are a summary of ideas
from Scott Kritzer’s Performance Anxiety Rehabilitation Workshop. Contact
Leanne for info about programs in Pittsburgh.)
- Realize you have to walk before you can run. Have
realistic expectations and build on success. Play simple songs or pieces
to get your confidence up. Make them more difficult as your skill levels
increase. Create a repertoire book for yourself. YOU HAVE TO START
SOMEWHERE.
- Accept that you are going to make mistakes and
practice recovering from them. Know where your trouble spots are and have
contingency plans. Practice playing through start to finish many times
over. Record yourself or have fellow students, teachers, or family members
as audiences. Enroll in a group class.
- Focus on ONE goal for each piece – could be
accuracy, tone, expression, speed, or just getting through start to
finish. Realize that many of our goals for playing are at odds. Speed and
accuracy are two of the most common examples: as speed increases, accuracy
often decreases.
- Our brains are our own worst enemy when it comes
to performing. Here are several approaches to get you “out of your head”
(fear) and into the music.
- Imagine your fingers are communicating to your
brain, not vice versa.
- Think of your music as a gift you are giving to
other people.
- Imagine your best performance in something
completely different – a sport, a game or hobby. Get into that feeling
and play guitar.
- Imagine you are someone else – your favorite
player. Really get into this and practice focusing through the whole
song.
- GET FEEDBACK – a small group of friends,
recording yourself.
- Attend a Performance Anxiety Rehabilitation
workshop!
References: Scott Kritzer,
“Performance Anxiety Rehab” Workshop, ©2008
©2008 Leanne
Regalla. All Rights Reserved. May not be duplicated or distributed without
permission.
Leanne Regalla
Amazing Cool Music Place, 509
Mill Street, Coraopolis, PA 15108
412-269-0846
www.amazingcool.com
leanne@amazingcool.com