Estimated reading time 2 minutes
Table of Contents
Introduction to "Tips for How to Stay Calm and Cool Before a Concert"
Do you want tips for how to stay calm and cool before a concert? Today’s post contains two tips that’ll help keep your nerves at bay. Read more to learn how it works.
Tip #1 for How to Stay Calm and Cool Before a Concert
Want tips for how to stay calm and cool before a concert? Transform your fear.
Strong emotions get tied to the body’s physical responses:
- Thudding heart
- Cold hands
- Shaking limbs
- Dilated eyes
- Upset stomach
This results from your body’s fight or flight response. Namely, in an emergency your heart beats faster to provide more blood to your muscles. Your hands grow cold because your body draws blood from your limbs in case you get injured. Your eyes dilate so you can see better, etc.
However, when you perform, you won’t be fighting or fleeing for your life. Interpreted the wrong way, these responses get in the way of performing.
Try this: Don’t say, “I feel scared.” Instead, say, “I feel excited!”
This reinterprets your strong physical responses from the emotion of fear to one of excitement. For example, when you climb a high rock wall, you can feel either excited or terrified. If you can tip your feelings over into the excited category, you’ll perform much better.
Tip #2 for How to Stay Calm and Cool Before a Concert
Want tips for how to stay calm and cool before a concert? This tip comes from Barry Green. He suggests you ask yourself what’s the best and worst things that could happen:
“The worst thing that could happen when I was playing the Mahler was that I might have blown the solo. Taking this a little further, perhaps some musicians in the other orchestras might have heard my blunder…
“But would I have lost my job? It’s unlikely, but not impossible. Could I get another job? Probably…
“And what is the best possible outcome? The best thing that could happen in those circumstances was that I would play well and everyone would know it… Why was I so scared, then?” (The Inner Game of Music 84 – 85).
For more on how to use this fear busting strategy:
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?
- Should I Learn to Play the Piano One Hand at a Time or Simultaneously
© 2023 Geoffrey Keith
Join me for in-person or online lessons today!
Back to the All-Purpose Music Tips and Topics category blogs page
Is There a Color Code for Music Notes?
Do you have a hard time reading music? Have you ever wondered if color coding the music notes would help? Read more to find out the answer to the question, “Is there a color code for music notes?” Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
Read MoreThe Music of Words in Your Songwriting
Do you want to add more zing to your lyrics? Want words that pop off the page? It's not just what you say, but also how you say it. Read more to understand how to capture the music of words in your songwriting. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
Read MoreSing the Charming Song London Bridge Is Falling Down
Do you want to sing the charming song “London Bridge Is Falling Down?” In this article, you’ll get these essentials: 1) a sing along video of “London Bridge Is Falling Down,” 2) a lead sheet version of the lyrics, 3) easy-to-read shape note sheet music with a sing along soundtrack. Keep reading to learn more. Estimated reading time 2 minutes.
Read MoreHarmony Singing Examples for Children
Don’t you think kids need to develop harmonizing skills too? Yes! Does "Harmony Singing Examples for Children" have to be limited to children only? No! However, children especially need good harmonic sound models to train their ears to hear how well-tuned harmony should sound. The post’s sound tracks contain specially tuned sing-along songs that balance harmonic and melodic tuning. Thus, they help develop a cappella level intonation. Estimated reading time 2 minutes.
Read More
