Hi,

I am taking my grade 5 piano on the 2nd March and I always get really nervous when playing the piano. I have been playing the piano for 2 years now and I still get really nervous. It is my third instrument and as much as I love playing it at home to myself...I'm not so keen on playing in public (or in exam situations)...

...which brings me to my point:

How do you control shaking of your hands (maybe nerves) but I am under a lot of stress at the moment and therefore it has occured that tremors don't help. These are really hard to control and a mixture of the 2 really won't help! Any one have any advice to help me relax as my piano exam is straight after my grade 8 singing exam!!!

Anything woud be appreciated!

Thanks

Annetta

The only thing i've found that works is eating a banana beforehand as recommended by lots of people on these forums! I played for a show last year and a concert the month afterwards and was cool as a cucumber after eating a banana, usually I would be the same and shake

Does anyone know the theory behind 'eating the banana'??

Good luck with all of your exams Annetta, it's a lot to take in one go!
Don't forget, if you have done the work, your performance will come off - it may not be the best you ever played, but it will come off. Ths physical shaking can be hard to keep under control, but just keep on telling yourself that you know your stuff, and you can stay in control.
Try to enjoy the experience if you can, but I know it is hard.
Good luck

Might be something to do with sugar-levels, I usually eat a sweet before a gig.

I go on the principle of who cares, as long as it works - even if it is psychosomatic

My hands tend to go cold, and sometimes shaky too!!! I've never tried eating a banana, but everyone says it works, so I'll try it for the next exam!!! A mixture of taking deep breaths, and taking the Bach Rescue Remedy normally helps me. It's not the nicest of things to take, it kind of reminds me of eating grapes for some reason!!! It's supposed to help calm nerves, but it may be more psycological than it actually working.

It used to work wonders for me. I tend to put it on my wrists and behind my ears (ie where the veins are close to the skin) and it works very fast. Don't use it now as I actually enjoy a few nerves when playing!

I also used it when I had a wisdom tooth out and it helped me get through that!

You eat the banana before going out, right? I'd be worried about not finishing it in time!

Hi Annetta

I was a bag of nerves when I did grade 3 last year. It was my first exam and though I knew I would be nervous I was surprised just how bad the nerves were, and the sweaty hands. I'm reading a book at the moment called the 'Inner Game Of Music' at the moment which is interesting in that it looks at the psychological side of playing. One of the most useful things I have found so far is that it is alright to make a mistake. After all, how often, if ever is a piece played perfectly, even by the top players. The examiner is going to expect mistakes so why get hung up about making them. My nerves were brought on by not wanting to make a mistake. When I tell myself it is alright to make a mistake I find myself relaxing and playing better and in a lighter, less tense way. Also play to as many different people as possible under 'exam' conditions.

All the best for the exam. If we were made to do these it would be classified as 'torture' in any civilised contry!!

lostchord

I did my grade 3 as well last year and like you it was my first exam as well and I had only been playing the piano for a year! I was really nervous last year as well but I think from what you have said it will help me more now. I played one of my grade 5 pieces in the Christmas concert and didn't make one single mistake which is why I think I am really panicing. I don't feel that I know the pieces as well as I did last year and I only got 115 marks last year aswell. There were also less scales to learn and I think with the other exams as well it is hard trying to get into practicing the pieces equally. Thanks for the advice though...it was really constructive and I shall take that into the exam with me and when I am practicing at home and at school!

Bananas have lots of potassium, something we use more of when stressed.

Something that I found curiously helpful when I used to get nervous about interpreting...imagine the worst thing that could happen...you could fail...SO WHAT!!!! If you had to, you'd cope with it!

Noticing your sweaty hands and pounding heart can make you think "Oh no, I'm nervous!" Turn that round, and tell yourself it means something different - "Wow! This is IT, and my body is getting ready to make a last ditch stand! I'm going to put EVERYTHING into my performance today!"

Good luck!

*one-man standing ovation in response to this*

Can anyone make a link to the thread about controlling exam nerves? Not sure how to do that, but it would be worth looking at it because there was an enormous amount of input on the whole "being nervous" thing.

the banana gives you energy too! I speak from first hand experience - last night I had a banana in the interval of the school play and I think I did better in the second half so tonight I'm eating one before the whole performance! ALthough I'm not sure about before a flute exam - all I'm imagining is banana spit!