Reluctant Performers' Club - 3 Members Already, Support group - feel free to join Options

[Juniper]

There are a surprising number of us who feel the same regarding this. Lets hope there's strength in numbers. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I've handed my form in for headingley now and on it I've put down to do a piano solo. Please all wish me luck. I'm following a tip from Oldnotes - I'm going to play the piece once (maybe twice) a day everyday between now and January 2nd and hopefully I'll pull it off (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

Good luck (IMG:style_emoticons/default/goodLuck.gif) although with that amount of prep I'm sure you won't need luck (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Will be thinking of you. Right, I've definitely got to get my debut sorted now (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[Tequila]

There are a surprising number of us who feel the same regarding this. Lets hope there's strength in numbers. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I've handed my form in for headingley now and on it I've put down to do a piano solo. Please all wish me luck. I'm following a tip from Oldnotes - I'm going to play the piece once (maybe twice) a day everyday between now and January 2nd and hopefully I'll pull it off (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

Good luck (IMG:style_emoticons/default/goodLuck.gif) although with that amount of prep I'm sure you won't need luck (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Will be thinking of you. Right, I've definitely got to get my debut sorted now (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/thanks.gif) I think we should ALL have a "debut" and support each other through it what do you reckon folks??

[skylark]

I'm not exactly a reluctant performer because I quite enjoy it, especially on clarinet, but I do find piano performing much more difficult. I think it's partly because unlike on clarinet where your fingers always go on the same keys, with piano you have to make sure your fingers are on the right keys to start off with. I remember seeing a post a while ago from a really experienced teacher who said that sometimes when she's performing, she sits at the piano and for a moment can't think where middle C is. I'm not sure whether it's comforting that even the most experienced pianists have blank moments, or scary that we might never grow out of it!

I think the double stave has a lot to do with it for me - there's so much to take in, and particularly if you go wrong or lose your place, whereas on clarinet, I'm generally pretty good now at picking up the thread if I go wrong. Perhaps the clue is when I say "pretty good NOW" - I haven't always been good at picking up on clarinet, it's just come with practice. So hopefully the more familiar I get with the double-clef, the easier it will get. I'm expecting it to take years (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/thanks.gif) I think we should ALL have a "debut" and support each other through it what do you reckon folks??

I don't know if you're thinking of something different, but clarijo and I were talking after the recital today about having a sort-of "mock rehearsal" at the college before the Leeds concert, to enable people to familiarise themselves with the environment and the piano so that it's not quite so scary on the day. I was planning to start a thread about it tomorrow probably, but if you've got some different ideas as well, I'm up for anything really (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (although depending on what it is, not necessarily on piano!)

[Solari]

I would join this, but the thing is... the more I play in front of other people, the more I want to?


I don't think it's "showing off", but more a matter of proving my worth and making sure that I can do it?

[denmark77]

I agree, Solari,

I was the most pertified performer in public when I first started out on piano (again, I don't experience the same level of trauma when performing on first instrument - violin.....how strange is this?). But the more I do it (and pull it off, which is important), the more I want to do it. It is a masochistic way of saying to yourself, as much as to anyone else, ' ...look, its not so bad really, I can do this...'

But when it goes wrong on piano....oh my goodness....the shakes......off the rails......big time....awful feeling (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

denmark

[eldatom]

I would join this, but the thing is... the more I play in front of other people, the more I want to?


I don't think it's "showing off", but more a matter of proving my worth and making sure that I can do it?

And you are a natural Sol!

I want to perform but unfortunately my fingers and body have a different view on it when I am in public. I am now managing to play at home in front of friends and family, but still get so nervous when in front of others. The fact that I have moved on from being totally nervous with my teacher, with my friends and family - the next stop has to be that I can play in front of others.

Over the last couple of months I have had some opportunities to do this and with the London grand gathering coming up I have another chance. I am determined to beat it, and I reckon once I have that beat that I will then hopefully be able to have another go at an exam without falling to pieces.

So yes please you can add me, I am not really a reluctant performer as I too want to do it, but nerves prevent me from doing so as I know I can.

ET

[Solari]

I want to perform but unfortunately my fingers and body have a different view on it when I am in public. I am now managing to play at home in front of friends and family, but still get so nervous when in front of others. The fact that I have moved on from being totally nervous with my teacher, with my friends and family - the next stop has to be that I can play in front of others.

Over the last couple of months I have had some opportunities to do this and with the London grand gathering coming up I have another chance. I am determined to beat it, and I reckon once I have that beat that I will then hopefully be able to have another go at an exam without falling to pieces.

There are plenty of other people in the same boat, or suffering even more! One lady at my pupil's concert was visibly shaking all the way through but she managed to get through her pieces which was great!

The playdays are definitely a nice way of testing the water and even though you may have been trembling on the inside last time, you still looked pretty composed to me! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) The playdays will also get a lot easier to play at as well, I suspect, as there will be a lot of familiar faces each time.

I still think I will be having palpitations at the exam! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Tequila]

I would join this, but the thing is... the more I play in front of other people, the more I want to?


I don't think it's "showing off", but more a matter of proving my worth and making sure that I can do it?

I'm hoping I'll be the same.... I love performing on clarinet it's such a buzz!! but and it's a big BUT on piano I've got to get past the nerves first.


Skylark: I just meant that my debut would be Headingley maybe others would choose another venue/event forum or otherwise and this thread might just help us to be brave enough to take the plunge. It was you playing at Headingley last year that has inspired me. At first I thought "wow! That's brave!!" but maybe performing as a total beginner is a good move - if it all goes wrong you have good reason but when you are supposed to be a bit further along in the journey maybe people expect more of you? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) I'm not that much further on really. I've had a few years worth of lessons but with breaks in them and they have for the present stopped. I'm supposed to be around Grade 5 but have not taken any exams and apart from playing for my teacher and some close family members/friends who've witnessed my practised I just don't play in front of anyone. I don't think I need a pre-event visit to the college as it'll be the people not the venue that will make me most nervous. We will get a chance to try the piano at some point in the morning won't we?

[anacrusis]

I'm just wondering - is this actually reluctance to perform - or is it more wanting to be able to perform, but with a barrier that feels insurmountable?

I recognise the contents of the thread only too well - in times past I'd be terrified of anyone other than perhaps my husband or kids hearing me perform anything, be that on the piano, on recorders, and most certainly singing: but on recorders in particular, I'd long wanted to be able to get over that hurdle and get across in playing what I could feel in the music. I'd noticed that I could do a little bit of this if I was on my own, but always played worse if I was aware of an audience.

I don't know what the answers are, except that getting the chance to play and get the right sort of feedback is definitely a big part of what makes it all worthwhile (and makes it gradually become more of a pleasure and less of a pain). I'd agree that having the supportive environment of an adult learners' concert can make a difference, and an enthusiastic teacher and/or partner is also so important. The only real encouragement I can give though is this - as someone who was most definitely in that camp, and who still feels a bit shy about performing, but has got one heck of a lot better about it: it's perfectly possible for that awful dread to lift (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif).

[madbassoonist]

I'm just wondering - is this actually reluctance to perform - or is it more wanting to be able to perform, but with a barrier that feels insurmountable?

Yes - that was what I was trying to say in my post, but it didn't really work! I do want to perform because if I do it enough, it will become easier.

[Mini_mo]

Must be. There are a number of ghastly things I would rather do than perform on the piano.

What I find odd with me is that I am desperate to play in front of people and show them what I have achieved so its not a case of not wanting to play but when I put those fingers to the keys that's when the fear kicks in! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/eek.gif)

It's in a sense like a stage fright!

I wonder why though, many of you feel that the piano is scarier? I would have thought that it is the fear of performing rather than the instrument. If many of you don't feel as nervous on the Clarinet is it because you are not playing solo perhaps? Is that the difference? This has intrigued me!

[Tequila]

I'm just wondering - is this actually reluctance to perform - or is it more wanting to be able to perform, but with a barrier that feels insurmountable?

Yes - that was what I was trying to say in my post, but it didn't really work! I do want to perform because if I do it enough, it will become easier.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) It's just taking that first step really which in a way I have done by saying I'll play at Headingley (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) In days gone by I would not even have considered it on piano so all forum friends it's because you have bullied coaxed me into it. I think it's fear of failure. I know I do well on my clari and get positive feedback when I perform. I just don't have this sort of confidence or any experience of performing on piano. I lost a lot (if not all) of my confidence in my own ability to play ANYTHING on piano due to some not so positive experiences with my teacher earlier this year, thus forming a vicious circle of feeling "can't do!" so wouldn't do and so on... If I knew I could play piano well then I'd be happy to perform on it but becasuse I don't I'm not if this makes sense.

Must be. There are a number of ghastly things I would rather do than perform on the piano.

What I find odd with me is that I am desperate to play in front of people and show them what I have achieved so its not a case of not wanting to play but when I put those fingers to the keys that's when the fear kicks in! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/eek.gif)

It's in a sense like a stage fright!

I wonder why though, many of you feel that the piano is scarier? I would have thought that it is the fear of performing rather than the instrument. If many of you don't feel as nervous on the Clarinet is it because you are not playing solo perhaps? Is that the difference? This has intrigued me!

It is like stage fright!! Although I'm not "Desperate" to play in front of others.... I would like to be able to though. I actually did play a very simple hymn in school assembly a number of years ago (As teacher not pupil) I did ok (ish) but was so nervous and had shaky fingers etc it kind of put me off doing it again.

I still get this feeling at home on my own piano when I know someone is actively listening to me play rather than just being in the room. The feeling is much less pronounced with my family though.

I play clarinet solo (i.e. without accompaniment) so that's not the issue now although I wonder if maybe because I didn't play solo but played with bands etc or duetted with my sister or friend until later on clarinet if it was a gentle outing into performing rather than as the piano feels like a baptism of fire. However, thinking about it I did play some (simple) solos at middle school when I'd only just started playing so maybe this is not true after all..... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

I also think a lot is down to the fact that pianists (piano players) have to play whatever instrument is there at the concert venue whereas a clarinettist will take their own familiar old faithful along with them. I once found myself in a situation where I was due to play quite a large clarinet solo when someone knocked over my clarinet and damaged the keywork. I was faced with the very strong possibility of having to play the solo on a borrowed clarinet with little time to familiarise myself with it. A similar intensity of fear/panic to that which I feel thinking about performing on piano set in (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

Actually talking all this out has strangely made me feel less panicked about performing on piano. I guess I know now that a lot of others feel exactly the same and it's not just me. Makes mefeel more comfortable with it somehow.

I have decided that I AM going to do this - whatever the potential for a huge mess up (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blush.gif)

To help myself succeed: I have chosen a piece I can almost play perfectly already.

I'm going to go over it every day even if I do nothing else on piano between now and January,

When I feel I can play it I'm going to play for as many people as possible in my home environment - hopefully to quell some nerves.

Then I'll try to get familiar with the touch of the piano sometime before the concert (maybe that morning)
(Mine needs quite a strong touch and I feel like I'm bashing away hamfistedly on some pianos as a result)

and Go for it!

And hope! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/fingersCrossed.gif)

[Juniper]

[
Actually talking all this out has strangely made me feel less panicked about performing on piano. I guess I know now that a lot of others feel exactly the same and it's not just me. Makes mefeel more comfortable with it somehow.

I have decided that I AM going to do this - whatever the potential for a huge mess up (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blush.gif)

To help myself succeed: I have chosen a piece I can almost play perfectly already.

I'm going to go over it every day even if I do nothing else on piano between now and January,

When I feel I can play it I'm going to play for as many people as possible in my home environment - hopefully to quell some nerves.

Then I'll try to get familiar with the touch of the piano sometime before the concert (maybe that morning)
(Mine needs quite a strong touch and I feel like I'm bashing away hamfistedly on some pianos as a result)

and Go for it!

And hope! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/fingersCrossed.gif)

Great to hear it (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

I've been thinking a lot about this over a weekend of gigs and tried to work out why it seems more scary on piano. I've come to the following thoughts. One of the reasons that has already been discussed is familiarity. I'm pretty certain the trumpet will do what I want it to whereas I'm never sure with the piano. Another is I have grown up hearing some amazing pianists. In comparison I feel like a some sort of ape that's been sat in front of a piano! I know I am learning and I'm not going to sound amazing...... (yet!).... but it's just a fear of sounding/looking like an idiot.

I think one of the other problems is just a general lack of confidence. After Saturday night's gig I got some amazing compliments and just didn't know how to take it and ended up blushing and murmuring my thanks (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blush.gif) so maybe it's just that I have just learnt how to hide my lack of confidence on the trumpet rather than getting rid of it altogether (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

Anyway, glad you are going to go for it, have a great time (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[oldnotes]

Dawn, when you play your piece each day, don't just think of it as practise. Pretend that this is your performance with an audience. I find that this helps me and as it gets closer to 'the day', when the right notes are in the right order at the right speed, I concentrate on the dynamics. The playing through then becomes a rehearsal, rather than practise, and more and more frequently I find myself thinking - yes, if I can repeat that for the examiner/audience, I'll be happy.

[eldatom]

[quote name='DawnF' date='Nov 16 2009, 11:06 AM' post='895600']
[quote name='madbassoonist' post='895549' date='Nov 16 2009, 07:32 AM']
[quote name='anacrusis' post='895536' date='Nov 16 2009, 01:37 AM']

"I also think a lot is down to the fact that pianists (piano players) have to play whatever instrument is there at the concert venue whereas a clarinettist will take their own familiar old faithful along with them. "

And not just a strange piano but the seating too, I can never get the stool right, height position etc, whereas at home, it is in its pace where I know I can play.

I am beginning to get a phobia about piano stools!