Hi,
Can anyone help with tips for me not to get so nervous when performing at auditions? I have another audition in exactly a week. I really want to do well, because if i do, i will be moved up a band, into the concert band. The person who does the auditions really terrifies me. She really is scary. Every one is the current band is scared of her... Anyway, when i play in front of her on my own, i shake really badly, my mouth goes dry (not a good thing for playing a flute), my heart starts racing, my fingers go all sweaty and slide off the keys, and the phrasing and breathing goes wrong. And i'm usually a pretty confident person when she isn't there!
Anyone have any ideas to be more confident?

Helen

I have the same problems in my exan, also playing flute, and find the only thing that helps is compleatly blocking out everything around me and trying to fucus solely on the music. Alternatively you can go off into a daydream and play the music compleatly on auto pilot.

Unfortunetly niether of these are particularly easy to manage, and if you play on autopilot a piece that has lots of similar phrases its very easy to lose your place.

Sorry I can't be more helpful, but I've never yet found a way to fully counter my nerves, if you find a way, pls let me know!!

Good Luck.

i found the site www.practicespot.com very helpful for my nerves. whn u get there go to infopedia, to the tab on practicing and try the challenges under Surviving Performance and making your piece reliable. i think it helped me a lot.
hope tht helps!

Im the same I get terrified playing in front of people on my own even if its not an exam. On monday i have to play a piano solo in front of my whole music set and teacher for my end of year exam and Im terrified!!
The only advice I can give is get the piece of pieces up to 120% so that you can go in knowing that even if its not as good as normal it will still be really good.
Hope this helps
Good Luck