Preparing to perform, What goes through your mind? Options

[sbhoa]

This is not about practice but about those moments just before you start to play.
What do goes through your mind in that space when you are just about to perform?
For most of my best performances my thoughts have been 'I can't do this!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/eek.gif)' accompanied by a total blank about where to start.

[barry-clari]

For most of my best performances my thoughts have been 'I can't do this!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/eek.gif)' accompanied by a total blank about where to start.

This is how I feel before flute and recorder performances (am thinking of the latter for Stalybridge, by the way), but not on other instruments.

My thoughts on clarinet, sax, cello and piano are so varied that it'd take me forever to write them here (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[sbhoa]

For most of my best performances my thoughts have been 'I can't do this!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/eek.gif)' accompanied by a total blank about where to start.

This is how I feel before flute and recorder performances (am thinking of the latter for Stalybridge, by the way), but not on other instruments.

My thoughts on clarinet, sax, cello and piano are so varied that it'd take me forever to write them here (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

How about clarinet?
I'm thinking for what people would consider their main instrument mostly.

[barry-clari]

How about clarinet?

Nerves, yes, but my general thoughts revolve largely around 'this is going to be fun!' Note : 'this is going to be fun', not 'this is going to be great' (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[BadStrad]

I've only performed in public once. Beforehand I thought about me as a child and how thrilled I would have been to have the chance to stand there playing music. Tapping into that childhood excitement worked wonders for me.

[Youngpianoteacher]

It's funny how you can almost hear someone over your shoulder saying words like...what happens if you make a mistake....If I stop completely, forget where I am in the music....

The reality is generally always positive and thankfully the worst has NEVER happened.... so probably I should (we) probably take comfort in the fact that it will be alright...

I think sometimes you can get so consumed that you do forget to ENJOY YOURSELF...after all, isn't that the reason you want to perform in the first place?

[CJB]

For a solo performance I usually have a short sentance to match the opening phrase and say it in my head at the right tempo to get into the right frame of mind for the piece to come.

[anacrusis]

In the runup, say the twenty minutes or so before I go on, I'm trying to clear my mind totally (and warm my hands), so tend to withdraw, be antisocial, and be somewhat resentful if anyone "fusses" me. I try to keep that state going really until I have to go up, then a "this is it, no going back" feeling takes over. The few seconds before starting to play, I'll rehearse the tempo and "feel" of the starting notes in my head, and if I'm lucky, the music'll carry me on from there.

[nicki_flute]

http://www.bulletproofmusician.com/ provides some useful thoughts on questions such as this.

One of the things which struck me about the piano category final for Young Musician of the Year, was how many said their aim was to enjoy themselves, which I think is a pretty sensible thought. Unfortunately, I tend to forget about the having fun bit!

[corenfa]

The closer it gets to when I go on stage, the longer time seems to draw out until the last few minutes are both very long and very short. Like anacrusis I start to mentally withdraw. When I am walking up on stage the world seems to become very small, eventually there is only the keyboard if I am sitting at the piano, when I was a horn player I used to focus on a spot on the wall in the far distance and look over the audience. I try not to think of anything but the music and usually I am successful.

I can't decide now whether I get nervous or not. I have before, but then i stopped, but then I started again after I started this complete technique breakdown with my current teacher. If/when I do get nervous it is less about "what if i screw up" and just this visceral fear that my hands aren't going to do what they ought to. It's the fear that I won't be able to keep all the right thoughts together rather than fear of being laughed at / thrown out / thought less of, which is what it used to be. That's only come to me as I've typed this, it's odd really.

[louise1712]

For solo playing, initially I had the "I can't do this" thought and could hardly control the shaking that overcame me. Since the first time I performed I've read lots about performing and nerves etc. and now try to focus on the having fun bit and trying not to worry about messing up notes, it really doesn't matter how many mistakes I make. I'm not a professional and never will be, I'm playing purely for fun (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[PianoNotes]

"I hope I don't lose my place in the music."

[Misterioso]

One of the things which struck me about the piano category final for Young Musician of the Year, was how many said their aim was to enjoy themselves, which I think is a pretty sensible thought. Unfortunately, I tend to forget about the having fun bit!

The stakes are quite high for the winners, and these youngsters are seriously good; so good that many of them are fairly "driven". That makes me wonder if they are primed to say that....?

My thoughts:-
"Which bit will I screw up this time?"
"What happens if I grind to a halt?"
"What if that top (any high note) doesn't come out?" (only applies to flute)
"What have I let myself in for?"
"Why do I do this?"

Before the Scottish Forum Event Part 1, it was "how on earth do I play a C?!" Considering that I had taken Grade 5 at that stage, and C was one of the first two notes I ever learnt to play, you can probably gauge how firmly embedded my performance nerves are! Sadly, I never ever think about having fun. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ill.gif)

[lottie]

In the runup, say the twenty minutes or so before I go on, I'm trying to clear my mind totally (and warm my hands), so tend to withdraw, be antisocial, and be somewhat resentful if anyone "fusses" me. I try to keep that state going really until I have to go up, then a "this is it, no going back" feeling takes over. The few seconds before starting to play, I'll rehearse the tempo and "feel" of the starting notes in my head, and if I'm lucky, the music'll carry me on from there.

I've really only played viola in exams (and two little concerts) but I approach things very much like 'anacrusis'. At my last exam the accompanist was chattering away so much that I was rather irritated and even forgot to take my glasses into the exam room (although ultimately proved how well I knew the music because I couldn't see it too well (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) ). It wasn't the accompanist's fault and he's a lovely chap but I would have rather had a few minutes 'peace and quiet'.

The only thing I would add is that I take a pause of about 3-4 seconds before I lift my viola. I find it steadies my head, hands and heart so there is no chance I feel flustered in any way. I do this for maybe 2 secs before the start of each scale too - not long enough for the examiner to think I'm hesitating but enough to visualise the scale I'm about to play.

Before my exam last month I felt a great sense of joy because I knew the pieces well and was looking forward to a rare opportunity to perform them!

[VH2]

I make sure that:

The recital has no "dangerous" pieces.
I had plenty of sleep the night before
I arrive early
I try out the piano, make sure all the notes work, and the dampers, and the una corda,
I get the feel of the sustain pedal,
I check for any narrow gaps between black notes where my fingers might stick
I visit the loo
I drink a little water
I focus on the music and work through it mentally right up to taking the platform

then I feel the mood of the first piece, and imagine the feel and sound of the opening notes,

and I begin.