Exam nerves, Why does it only affect violin?! Options

[ELLAonthepiano]

I normally don't get nervous at all - piano and sax exams have never bothered me, and singing solos in choir doesn't either. But for some reason with violin exams I get so nervous, and I'm trying to work out why.
I'm doing grade 8 on monday (aaaaaaaaaaaa) and I know that if I played like I can at home, I could do really well, but I've resigned myself to the fact that I won't, because I'll be shaky, and obviously that makes it much harder to control tone etc. Today I practised playing in front of some friends and it went quite well, but not as well as it does when I'm alone, or just with my teacher. Does anyone have any advice for calming down before exams/tackling this problem in general? Thank you (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Hedgehog]

Not being a violinist, this may be of no help at all! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

However, I tell my pupils to take deep breaths before each piece and try to hear the first few bars in their head first. If they're really nervous, I tell them to imagine that the examiner is listening to the music that XX wrote, not their playing (ie they're just the conduit for the music).

Another thing you could do is to imagine that you're at home/in a lesson/just in a run through with the accompanist.

Having just taken an exam myself, I can say that I was still nervous going in to the exam, and probably didn't do myself justice during the first 10 minutes, but I had given myself a stern talking to during the preceding week and in the waiting area along the lines that I was as good as the examiners and there was really no need to be over-the-top nervous. Tell yourself that it's just an exam and not a matter of life-or-death. Try to enjoy playing the music because that will come over in your interpretation.

Good luck. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/goodLuck.gif)

[ffliwt]

I have the same problem! Sometimes I can play so well on my own, but the minute i'm playing to someone it all goes out the window and I sound awful. I wish I could show people how i really play, instead of them hearing my bad performances and thinking im rubbish!
My main problem is that my mind blanks, everything i usually think about 'do this here' 'dynamics here' 'less vib here' etc. all the details that make the piece good, are gone out the window and afterwards my performances have gone in such a fast rushed whirlwind that i cant really remember what i did.

My performance coach suggested something that athletes often do - a little something to remind you to focus and to bring you back into the room. I said that i feel that when i perform i play unpassionately and wishy washy so she suggested i drew a little heart on the inside of my hand that only i'd see to remind me to think, play passionately and to remind me that the people are here to listen to the MUSIC not to look at me so i have to concentrate on the music.
Can't say it worked for me on my first attempt, i didnt even see the heart but, hey worth a try!!

She has even suggested things like, run on the spot for a while then play as it'll recreate the situation of you having a racing heart etc.
Try visualising yourself in the performance etc. and 're-enacting' it as many times as you can

Something i've only just discovered - DON'T practise your socks off in the day or 2 coming up to the exam, the more you go over it the more you'll stress yourself out. Have a gentle play of your pieces and calmly and slowly go over the difficult passages, then PUT YOUR VIOLIN AWAY and go do something to chill out and forget about it! There's probably not an awful lot of improvements you can do in 2 days so use the 2 days before the exam as a 'winding down' period - in my opinion that'd be more beneficial at this point than practising loads
Don't stress yourself out, the more you turn the exam into a 'run of the mill' kind of thing the les you'll be stressed, whereas if youre just thinking OMG OMG OMG GOTTA PRACTISE 17 HOURS A DAY I'M SO SCARED, you're bound to feel worse when the time comes!!
Good luck you will be fine (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Roseau]

I normally don't get nervous at all - piano and sax exams have never bothered me, and singing solos in choir doesn't either. But for some reason with violin exams I get so nervous, and I'm trying to work out why.

Perhaps you care about the violin more than the others, or feel that you have something to prove. The only instrument I have ever played in public without feeling nervous at all is the flute and I'm sure that is because I can't really play it (I had lessons for a year age 11) and so wouldn't feel I had let myself down if I played badly because I don't have any illusions about being able to play (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif) (I don't know if that makes any sense).

She has even suggested things like, run on the spot for a while then play as it'll recreate the situation of you having a racing heart etc.

A professional orchestral oboist I met said that he deliberately hyper-ventilates in performances just before a solo passage so that he already has a faster heart-beat and is short of breath before he starts playing the solo. He might fluff a few notes just after he has hyper-ventilated but they will be unnoticeable ones and by the time he starts the solo he has become used to playing with a racing heart. He suggested I try hyperventilating before playing a solo piece and using the tuning note to accustom myself to playing with a racing heart but I have never been game enough to try it.

Something i've only just discovered - DON'T practise your socks off in the day or 2 coming up to the exam, the more you go over it the more you'll stress yourself out.

Very true. The least nervous I've ever been was with a piece that I hadn't practised to death (because I hadn't had it long enough) and it even had a few bars that I'd never yet managed to get right even at home. This was the only time that adrenalin had a positive effect and I did manage to play the "tricky bits" correctly in the concert. Again I put this down to the fact that I was putting myself under less pressure. Because I didn't think I would play perfectly, I didn't feel everything had to be perfect ...

Something possibly more useful, which doesn't get rid of the nerves but does enable you to play with them is to acknowledge that you're going to be nervous. Instead of saying to yourself "I'm going to be so nervous, my bow's going to be jumping all over the place" (substitue you main fear) say out loud several times a day: "I'm going to be nervous and I'm going to shake but that's OK because I'm always like that when I play the violin." I *think* the rationale behind this is that it is one less thing to worry about (you don't have to worry about being nervous) and so you can concentrate more fully on playing.

Good luck for your exam (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Vicky Violin]

When you talk about being shaky, I assume you mean the bow shakes? If you lift the violin up slightly when this happens it will help control the tone. Another tip my violin teacher gave me is that when you start shaking, think about the third finger on your right hand and just concentrate all your thought purely on that finger. She said it worked for her, although I must confess it's never really worked for me. Still, worth a try. Also worth remembering that the shaking is much more noticable to you than to the audience. Good luck!

[liseypeasy]

I've always had the same issue, fine with clarinet but when it comes to violin, shaking all the way. I think it is a case of trying different techniques and finding what works for you. Something I found worked, albeit at an interview rather than performance, was to tense up my muscles (all over) before I went in, holding the tension for a few seconds and release, and repeating remembering to breathe. It helped me feel like I had some control over my physical responses and focussing on them beforehand rather than being taken by surprise as soon as you strike a note.

All the best for Monday! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ill.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/fingersCrossed.gif)

[violin123]

Shaking has always been a HUGE problem for me on violin. It's horrible! The strange thing is, exams are always ok for me - it's concerts that are the issue. I've learnt to control it though, and shake nowhere near as much as I used to.

A good tip would be do your scales first. That way you get a bit of a warm up with not as many marks at stake, and they're easier to control than pieces because you don't need to worry about dynamics and things.

Try and make a 'mental wall' between you and the examiner. Obviously still connect enough to portray the piece, but really focus on what you're doing. Try to get so caught up in the moment you forget the nerves.

Sorry it's really hard to explain but hope I helped. GOOD LUCK!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[ELLAonthepiano]

Thank you everyone!
I've had an orchestral rehearsal and a string quartet performance this weekend so other than that I haven't done too much exam practice - just running through scales and pieces. Everything's sounding fine so as long as I can keep it together it should be okay. I'll try out your advice tomorrow - fingers crossed!!

[ffliwt]

Good luck! Sounds like you're going to be great

Bananas stop you shaking...
Apparently (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

One of my friends at college takes this further and has about 10 bananas throughout the day of a performance (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[ELLAonthepiano]

Well, it didn't go too well. I guess I was just a bit too nervous and I just couldn't do it (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) The first piece especially was awful, but it got gradually better. I'm really annoyed with myself but hey, it's too late now.
But today I had an audition for a concert, and the same sort of thing happened. The thing is, I wasn't nervous at all, or didn't think I was. I played it perfectly just before, went in feeling confident, started playing happily and comfortably. But it just didn't work! The bow kept bouncing and sounding horrible, and although I knew exactly what I needed to do to stop it, I couldn't.
I'm so confused now. Nerves have never been a problem before, and I didn't even think I was nervous so how could I be? And I'm starting to get worried, because although I don't want to be a soloist or go to music college or anything, any orchestras I ever want to be in will be auditioned and I'm terrified of not being able to sort it out. What if I can never play in front of anyone again?!

[Rosie91]

The exam and the audition probably weren't as bad as you think, Ella!

I'd really recommend this book: http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Perfect-Wrong-...1937&sr=8-1

[benjaminja]

Alexander Technique...?

[ELLAonthepiano]

I managed a merit! 122. So considering how awfully I played, I couldn't have asked for any more and I'm happy (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I'm still pretty disappointed with how I played though, and will definitely retake at some point (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[katica]

I managed a merit! 122. So considering how awfully I played, I couldn't have asked for any more and I'm happy (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I'm still pretty disappointed with how I played though, and will definitely retake at some point (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Well done, ELLAonthepiano! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/party1.gif)

The most important thing is to have done so well despite the attack of nerves. So now you know you can survive them, I hope it will be easier in the future. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)