3 tips for overcoming stage fright

Stage fright, performance anxiety, or feeling nervous is completely normal. I don’t think I’ve met a single musician who feels totally calm, cool, and collected before a performance. And that’s a good thing! Performing for others requires you to put yourself out there and be vulnerable, and being nervous means that you care; you want to play well, and you want to be proud of yourself and show off all of your hard work. Here are my top three tips for overcoming your stage fright so that you can unlock your best performance yet.

Know your piece very well. There are a few layers to this. If at all possible, I suggest performing a piece that is not at the top of your ability level. Performing will be easier if the piece is easier. 😉 This probably goes without saying, but practice your piece frequently and be sure there are no unanswered questions or any confusion about bowings, fingerings, notes, etc. Finally, have escape routes planned in case things go wrong. This gives you piece of mind-even if you make a mistake, the whole piece will not fall apart.

Perform often. Performing is a skill within itself, and therefore needs to be practiced. Everyone reacts a bit differently to the pressure of performing. My heart rate gets really fast and my hands start sweating and shaking. Having a good idea of how your body will respond to the pressure will help you learn how to mitigate it.

Utilize mental practice. There was a study done by the University of Chicago in 1996 based on studying the potential of visualization. Two groups of participants were asked to master a 3-pointer shot in basketball. Group A physically practiced the shot and Group B simply visualized themselves practicing the shot. When it came time to test the two groups, which do you was more accurate?
Group B! When physically practicing the shots, participants did not make 100% of the baskets, compared to those who just visualized themselves making them (with 100% accuracy). This shows that the brain does not really know the difference between real and imagined.
Set aside time in the weeks leading up to your performance to visualize. Imagine yourself in the room you’ll be in (if possible), wearing the outfit you’ll wear, and playing your piece(s) flawlessly. This will greatly increase the likelihood of a great performance.

Bonus Tips

Eat a banana an hour or two before the performance. Bananas are natural beta-blockers; they prevent adrenaline from binding to beta receptors.

Try 6-7-8 breathing. Breathe in from your nose for 6 counts, hold the breath for 7 counts, and breathe out through your mouth for 8 counts.

If your bow is shaking, tilt the stick as far away from you as possible, so that you’re using just a small amount of hair. This will prevent bouncing.

How do you overcome stage fright? Drop a comment with your best tips!