Kitty
Remembering
Posts: 260
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Post by Kitty on May 25, 2007 20:01:36 GMT -5
I get nervous so easily...in less than two weeks, I have a piano recital which I am very nervous about. Last year I messed up on the piece I was playing...At home, when no one's watching me, I can play the pieces for my recital almost perfectly, but when I'm up there on the stage, my hands start to shake, and my fingers feel like toothpicks, and I just seem to forget how to read the music...in other situations when I'm anxious about something, my fingers shake, too...I just can't help it! Any ideas on how to calm my nerves a bit? I've always been a nervous person, jumping at every little noise, and such, but I'm quite scared about this recital, so I was hoping someone might have a suggestion so I can be less nervous...Thank you.
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Post by ladyofthelight on May 26, 2007 8:33:58 GMT -5
Hey Kitty,
I play the piano too. Last week, I had to play before a jury for my end of the year exam and I was pretty nervous too. At home, I could play it perfectly, but when I was playing before the jury, I had to make up some notes of my own, because I forgot how to play some parts of the music. The only suggestion I can give you, is that you should try to breath very calmly and think positive. It's really natural to feel nervous though. When I have an exam of piano, I always try to be one of the first that have to play, so I don't have really time to get nervous.
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Pearldancer Offline
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Post by Pearldancer Offline on May 26, 2007 13:18:40 GMT -5
no experience with pianos. . . . and bein a Leo I tend to enjoy the spotlight but I can feel the fear and anxiety from your post. . . . it seems almost paralyzing. The one thing that came to my mind was. . . it's not something you're gonna be able to pretend isn't there. HOWever. . . . if you truly love piano. . . perhaps you could try imagining that the piano is your best friend. . . . you're so nervouse and the croud is all there but LOOK!!! on the stage!!! the one friend in the world you would most want there with you. Imagine that the music you play is a conversation you are having with your friend. Tell everything you're feeling. .. unburden yourself. . . laugh. . . .let that friend help you through the experience and tell you that everything will be ok. . . .that you are not alone up there and that you will do well. .. and before you know it you will in fact be done and can take your bow. Imgaigine that bow is a hug you give to your friend, the piano. Well. . .that's what came to me ;D Hope it is at all helpful. Good luck and here take a little Leo RAWR to put in your pocket for the recital as well ;D
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Kitty
Remembering
Posts: 260
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Post by Kitty on May 26, 2007 19:54:03 GMT -5
*places a bit of Leo RAWR into pocket* ^_^ Thank you so much, both of you. At my recital, I will remember both of these replies and try to remember what you suggested. Everyone here is just so helpful, friendly, and nice. If anyone else has any comments as well, I will be very grateful. Once again, thanks! These suggestions will surely help me and come in handy.
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Post by ladyofthelight on May 27, 2007 11:55:02 GMT -5
Good tip, Pearldancer!
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Kitty
Remembering
Posts: 260
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Post by Kitty on May 27, 2007 20:30:53 GMT -5
Yes, thank you, ladyofthelight and pearldancer. I really look forward to reading your replies, because everyone here is so kind and wise... If I remember, I'll post a little message next week (the recital is exactly one week from today) to tell you how it went...both your suggestions will help me to relax, I just hope all goes well. Thanks again!
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Post by Shaelyn on May 30, 2007 0:23:21 GMT -5
well, as my boyfriend would suggest...picture the people in the audience naked.
my suggestion...start playing in front of friends or family, people close to you.
it's completely normal to be nervous. I had the same deal when I played oboe, and when I sing.
my nerves for singing, I accomplished by singing everywhere I went...and the butterflies eventually turned into adrenaline that I started to enjoy. was hard to do; took a couple of years. ...and I still get nervous, to the point of shaking...but I enjoy it too, and though I shake, I'm not paralyzed or scared beyond remembering the lines.
just tell yourself that you rock, and whoever else doesn't think so can kiss your ass. \m/ all it takes to calm your nerves is confidence.
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Kitty
Remembering
Posts: 260
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Post by Kitty on May 30, 2007 13:33:38 GMT -5
Hehe, wow, thanks, Shaelyn, I'll remember that. ^_^ Thank you all for such great advice! I welcome any other suggestions someone may have as well; they all help! Oh, I don't know what I would do without all of you... Thank you, thank you, thank you for your words of encouragement and wisdom! My recital is this Sunday at 2:30 and then we'll go out to dinner but I'll be sure to tell you all how I did...wish me luck! Four more days...
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Post by Shaelyn on May 30, 2007 18:27:19 GMT -5
best of luck! ;D
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Kitty
Remembering
Posts: 260
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Post by Kitty on May 30, 2007 18:35:07 GMT -5
Thank you!
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Post by waterjag on May 31, 2007 9:44:02 GMT -5
Hello there Kitty, I found a tip that helps with nerves. A different breathing technique. It involves pushing one's diaphram up when breathing in and pulling one's diaphram down when breathing out. I wish I had a piano. A keyboard just doesn't produce the same sound.
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Kitty
Remembering
Posts: 260
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Post by Kitty on May 31, 2007 13:34:55 GMT -5
Oh, thank you, WJ! I will be sure to try that on Sunday...these tips will not only be helpful at my recital but also throughout my life, since I am a very nervous person... Anyway, yeah, I enjoy my piano, I had a keyboard too, they are fun to play with, but agreeably, pianos produce a more genuine sound...however, pianos can be kind of expensive! I got mine, which is used, (but it looked brand new to me! for Christmas. Anyway, thanks again.
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Kitty
Remembering
Posts: 260
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Post by Kitty on Jun 3, 2007 12:27:26 GMT -5
I'm leaving in about a half hour to go to the recital. We have to get there early. The recital is at 2:30, and afterwards, we're going out to eat, so if you happen to be around in the next few hours, and it's not a bother, I'd really appreciate it if you'd wish me luck! Thank you! *takes a deep breath, reads over board posts again, stuffs a little extra Leo RAWR from Pearldancer in my pocket, and posts*. Thank you for your tips everyone! I hope all goes well at my recital... I'll post here again when I get the chance, later, after my recital...
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Post by ladyofthelight on Jun 3, 2007 15:07:24 GMT -5
Good luck! I'm sure you'll do just fine.
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Kitty
Remembering
Posts: 260
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Post by Kitty on Jun 3, 2007 16:31:49 GMT -5
Thanks, ladyofthelight! I am back now, very relieved. I did fine, and although I played one of my songs an octave higher than it was supposed to be, no one noticed. I took a deep breath and remembered each and every suggestion made here, following each. When we were leaving the recital, we saw a license plate with my great grandmother's (she died in December) initials, and at the restaurant, my grandfather's favorite song played...(he passed away as well, before I was born ) But those are always signs that they were "there". Yesterday, it was my cousin's birthday, and another song that my aunt used to sing in the car started playing, so we knew that my grandfather knew...it's always amazing how deceased loved ones get their message across that they were there... Whenever I am scared or worried about something, I ask my angels to help me, and quite often, I get a "sign" that they are there for me...it's wonderful and so uplifting... ;D Once I was having a horrible day, nothing was going right, and I asked my angels that, if it wasn't a bother, to help cheer me up. Sure enough, that night, when I was eating fried oysters for dinner, I found a pearl... Anyway, a little off topic, but thank you, everyone, for your awesome tips and suggestions! They really helped in my performance...
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prUuf
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Post by prUuf on Jun 4, 2007 4:38:45 GMT -5
have the attitude that ALL is OK. then you don't give power to any attitude and the best outcome for you can shine through .
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Kitty
Remembering
Posts: 260
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Post by Kitty on Jun 4, 2007 13:31:51 GMT -5
Thanks for the tip, next time I have to do something nerve-wracking like my recital, I'll remember that. I'm just so glad all went well and it's over with...
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Post by Shaelyn on Jun 4, 2007 15:45:44 GMT -5
yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay
it's always such a big weight off your shoulders when it's done, isn't it.
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Kitty
Remembering
Posts: 260
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Post by Kitty on Jun 4, 2007 16:01:05 GMT -5
Yeah...*sigh of relief* Anyway, thanks for the help!
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Kitty
Remembering
Posts: 260
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Post by Kitty on Jun 5, 2007 20:21:42 GMT -5
I am, and I'm so happy it's over with...I feel that here on Earth, we have lessons to learn, and I accomplished one of mine... Thank you for the encouraging words! And you're from Canada? Wow We're studying Canada at school! Fascinating place...^_^
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Kitty
Remembering
Posts: 260
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Post by Kitty on Jun 6, 2007 14:05:36 GMT -5
Oh, our teacher told us that they speak French in Quebec, too! It sounds like a nice place... I'm from the United States, New England...I'm not supposed to give out my exact location, though, for safety reasons. Hehe, today we listened to two of the teachers sing the Canadian anthem, and I brought in some Canadian money (my dad gave me some several years ago) for people to look at. We study Canada at the end of the year, my teacher says, because while it's hot and muggy here, we can think about the nice, cool weather in Canada... You have reversed seasons of ours, right? Like, when we have winter, you have summer?
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Post by Shaelyn on Jun 7, 2007 23:40:56 GMT -5
As I saw on google map, New England is a small town located in the north center of USA, so you're fairly near of Canada. Kitty could be talking about the New England area of the US - which consists of a bunch of states in the northeastern US. large area. still a lot closer to canada than I am.
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Post by jeremy on Jun 8, 2007 4:10:38 GMT -5
If I knew how I managed with public performances I suppose I'd be more help but they just don't stress me these days. If you know how to meditate then try that for a while before your performance. You could also try slow deep breathing for a while, and chamomile tea.
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Kitty
Remembering
Posts: 260
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Post by Kitty on Jun 8, 2007 13:42:52 GMT -5
Hehe, thanks Jeremy. I'll try that next time! And yeah, Arya, I'm not from that town... As Shaelyn suggested, I'm talking about the northeastern part of the United States, which is often referred to as New England. Sorry, I wasn't specific enough there... And today, we watched a movie about Canada! It was quite interesting, but we had to fill out a worksheet about it while we watched it, which makes it not as fun... Still, it was interesting!
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