Hi all,

When I practise on my own I can play the pieces confidently and perfectly. When I have to play them for my Music Teacher or in an Exam, no matter how long or how good I have practise the pieces, I feel there is a lot of pressure on me and end up making mistakes. Thankfully I have managed to pass exams but i'm a complete bag of nerves! I feel if I relaxed before an exam I could do so much better. (It is also the same for Computer Exams that I have to take with work.)

Does anyone have the same feelings or have any suggestions?

Best Regards,
Craig

I know exactly how u feel. When im at home i can play the pieces confidently and without any mistakes but when im with my teacher i make the most stupid mistakes and end up feeling really stupid.

Unfortunately i dont have any suggestions but im sure its nice to know ur not the only one!

Rach x

It is usually the case that playing on your own is much better than if you are performing, or at the very least aware that someone may be listening from another room! It sounds harsh... but generally... and i mean generally(!), performers (certainly at the beginning of their learning years) don't play as well to their teacher etc than they do when they're on their own and have more confidence in themselves. I guess the key is to make sure that, on your own, you can play the pieces 110%(!)... so that at exam time (when you expect to play less well), you'll play at least 99% correctly!

Then of course there are those performers who use the adrenaline rush of being nervous to give an even better performance than normal!

Sorry not much practical help there.... i guess just take a few deep breaths

It is good to hear that other people have this problem. Especially as I read somewhere that it is not stressful when you play for your teacher
At least I feel more normal now

yes i ac sympathise with you craig i am fifty jyeras old and i have to stand up in my job and speak to up to 400 people but in my g5 exam i was totally wrecked by nerves just like u i had practised and practised i did pass but notas well as i wanted to i thinkl u must just oldier oin

Hi there!

Have you told your teacher about the way you get nervous? He or she may have some tips to help you overcome the feeling? And he or she may not be aware that you feel that way in lessons too - and this should help the two of you to address the problem. As everyone here says, being nervous is perfectly natural.

As far as exam nerves go, a couple of things I find helpful:

First, SMILE at the examiner. It will actually make you feel better, and chances are the examiner will smile back. Force yourself to do this even while you're performing the pieces - if you're a wind player remember you still smile with your eyes, not just with your mouth!

Second, when the bell rings, take a deep breath, count to ten and then walk in (smiling to the examiner as you go, don't forget!)

Finally, remind yourself you're doing this for FUN - exams are a useful measure of how you're getting on, but they aren't the real reason you're making music.

Hope this helps.


Cheers

Katyjay

Thankyou all for your kind replies.

I find playing the Organ/Piano at a Concert and even talking infront of an audiance easier than taking an exam! I believe in my own abilities, its just my mind takes over and in creeps the doubt. Silly I know!

The main problem may be that you are not used to playing in front of people. Try inviting neighbours, friends or relatives around ( not at the same time ) and play a well rehersed piece for them.

That is exactly what i'm like as well. I get so nervous about performing that i always make mistakes. But i find that you really just have to get used to playing in front of people. Today i had to do my gcse music solo and accompany a cellist for her performance as well. I was so scared but i think it went ok. I think you just need to practise performing more. Start by just playing to family and friends and perform a piece you know really well and you're really confident about. Good Luck!

Hiya!


i know exactly how you feel. i come out of my clarinet lesson ever week feeling like i ahvent played my best. i can play the pieces at home but then infront of others i am a bag of nerves and mess up. This then knoks your self-esteem and makes you feel bad. but then we reasure ourself by playing hten right on our own.

When i had a recording to do in college i was really nerves....so about a week before the recording date i bought a book one of my teaching friends advised. It worked wonders. It didnt cure my nervousness but i felt good aout playing infron of my teacher. i unfortunatly dont read it as often as i should be i think it may help you. Its called the inner game of music and talks about the interferance of the mind and over coming odstacles that accur whn we are playing.

email me back and tell me how you get on...thats if u buy it!
good luck....
sal

I think I'm better off playing to my teacher at school. When I'm at home, I spend loads of time playing really easy things like can-can or eastenders. I also hold back at home because I worry about my neighbours!!

I completely sympathise with you Craig. I am completely the same.

On my GI piano practical, I was so nervous - shaking even ! But when I walked in the exam room, there was this little old Welsh guy with a huge smile. That made me feel so much better. He also talked to me before hand just generally. So when it came to sitting at the piano, I felt completely at ease and played almost as well as I would at home. Consequently, I got an honours.

My GII was completely different. I had this other guy who was quite straight laced, gave me a quick smile and started the exam immediatley. I was absolutley shaking. I even messed up my best piece which I could do perfectly for months! I just went home and cried. I did get a merit so at least I passed.

I do think that the examiners could make more of an effort to put you at ease b4 you start. Especially if you are an older student like me.

I agree with Billy. The only thing to really shake the nerves is to invite people around and play a few well played pieces to show off. It's a good confidence booster. I tend to play better and less nervous the more people there are rather than just 1.

You are not alone!

Hope this helps !

Fiona