Stage fright – we’ve all been there. Whether it’s singing, talking, or playing the piano, it can be highly nerve-wracking to do anything in front of an audience. However, be assured that most musicians (including professionals) still get nervous before a performance. So, it’s completely normal to feel this way! Not only is it every day, but you can use this restless energy you may feel to make your performance even better. Here are 5 ways to get over stage fright:
1. Be Prepared
This may sound like the obvious point- but seriously, be prepared! Know your song or piece well, practice it regularly, and make it better every time. There are plenty of ways to practice, so find what works for you. The best part of feeling prepared is feeling confident. Lack of preparation can leave room for mistakes and even make you feel insecure about what you’re performing. Especially important in preparing for a performance is knowing your most challenging passage and spend a reasonable amount of time becoming more comfortable with that tricky parts.
2. Perform Your Best
It might be tempting to perform a song that you think you can manage, but for your good, choose pieces you feel most comfortable with. As you grow as an artist, so will your song bank and your ability to play the more challenging pieces in front of an audience. It’s beautiful to play a simple piece initially and know that you don’t have to prove anything to anybody.
3. Practice the Performance
As awkward as it may feel, practice your performance at home by yourself! Go through each song and plan out the in-betweens and transitions. Even if you make mistakes, try to remind yourself that you’re in front of an audience, even if you’re alone! The best benefit of practicing beforehand, like the real deal, is confidence during the real thing.
4. Start With a Small Audience
If you have anxiety with people, then start with a small audience! You can start with performing in front of your cat and move on to a family member. It may sound ridiculous to do these things- but it will help you in the long run of your performance journey. Gradually, you’ll begin adding more people to your audience, and you’ll feel more comfortable performing in front of a larger audience.
5. Stay Calm
Before any performance, make sure to know how your body reacts under stressful situations. A great way many musicians get in the “zone” is to take them an hour or so before the performance to themselves and to stay calm. Try getting away from the people or noisy places, and just focus on staying quiet and peaceful.
Conclusion
Overall, the best thing you can do during a performance is to just enjoy it! Don’t be too hard on yourself when you make a mistake- just learn from it. We hope you enjoyed reading about these 5 ways to get over stage fright! If you’re looking to buy your dream Yamaha piano or looking for piano lessons, we can help you! If you have any questions about where to buy a piano for the best price, we are open! Our hours are Monday-Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm. We are happy to help you in person again, using all the guidelines we have been provided. We are here for you.
