Estimated reading time 2 minutes
Table of Contents
Introduction: Would You Like to Overcome the Fear of Performing in Front of an Audience?
Do you feel terrified about playing for people? Do you want to know how to overcome the fear of performing in front of an audience? We know from psychology that our fears can be blown out of proportion through self-talk. However, a simple mental exercise can short circuit self-talk. Read more to find out how to defeat self-defeatism.
The Best and Worst Things That Could Happen and Overcoming the Fear of Performing in Front of an Audience
It’s common for musicians to have performance nerves. This tip came from The Inner Game of Music. You need to ask yourself what’s the best thing that can happen and what’s the worst thing that can happen. This question puts your fears in perspective.
I’ve found that when students do this, their fears will usually be extremely bad but not very likely. (Such as having a meteorite hit them as they perform – I kid you not.) Or it can be possible, but not very bad, like making a mistake.
I start by having my students tell me their biggest fears. Then, I tell them my Top Ten All Time Favorite List of Student Fears:
- A meteorite could hit me as I play
- I could die
- An airplane could hit the recital hall
- The audience could boo and/or throw tomatoes
- The recital hall could catch fire
- I could throw up on the audience or the instrument
- A light could break off the ceiling and hit me on the head
- I could fall over and break my leg and/or the instrument
- Somebody could burgle the place
- I could have a bathroom accident
Note that any of these things could happen but none would be likely to happen.
When we go through the student’s mundane fears, they usually revolve around making mistakes. I’ll ask the student:
- Will your parents stop loving you?
- Will your friends stop being your friends?
- Will the Earth open up and swallow you whole?
The students always answer, “no,” and they’ll usually be laughing by the end of our talk. Once students start laughing at their fears, that’s half the battle. This helps them overcome the fear of performing in front of an audience.
Concluding Thoughts on Overcoming the Fear of Performing in Front of an Audience
Professionals have these issues in spades because they can face real consequences for failure, such as losing their jobs. However, even for the pros, this exercise helps.
Barry Green states, “When I had examined the possible consequences of success and failure… I found that I was no longer paralyzed by doubt and fear” (The Inner Game of Music 84 – 85).
By keeping his fears in perspective, Green could overcome his fear of performing in front of an audience. Likewise, I’ve had many anxious performers who’ve said this exercise helped them to be comfortable for the first time while performing.
Related Content:
- How Does Your Brain Learn to Play the Piano with Two Hands?
- Ways Around the Difficulty of Playing the Piano Due to Short Fingers and Small Hands
- Why It’s So Hard for Someone with a Good Ear to Learn Sheet Music
- Why Do Minor Keys Sound Sad to Me?
- Do I Really Have to Learn Music Theory to Learn How to Play Piano?
- Why Do Pianists Occasionally Play Their Hands at Different Times as They Perform
- What Are the Small “>” Signs Above or Below the Notes?
- After They Can Sight-Read What’s Left for Musicians to Learn?
© 2022 Geoffrey Keith
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