Everyone is equipped with the adrenaline-fuelled fight or flight reaction to an approaching challenge but neither course of action is an option in an exam. The physical signs of nerves, especially the shaking fingers and unsettled breathing, can seriously threaten a candidate's usual standard, causing disappointment to all concerned. Some degree of tension can be a benefit - increasing the sparkle factor in a performance and heightening alertness - but too much could be described as real fear, and has the opposite effect.

Examiners sometimes write "Today..." on a mark form, implying that things may have been safer away from the exam room. We can only mark what we hear at the time and some candidates do cope brilliantly with the performing situation, while others - particularly adults - can crumble. Predictably, most fall between these two extremes. The examiner will always try to reassure and create an encouraging atmosphere, but by then it's really too late. The responsibility for the candidate's state of mind lies fairly heavily with the teacher and parents who, hopefully, will be in communication and agreement about the support needed. Fear of letting people down or of making a complete mess of things is usually at the heart of the matter and much can be done to reassure the very nervous pupils and take the pressure off.

If you have any helpful suggestions for coping with this all-too-familiar situation in a positive way, please click upon reply and post your message here.

Always play the piano in front of any people. It can help.

When it comes to exams i am terrified! I always think the worst. I was told that regular performances will build confidence and ease the nerves of taking an exam. Joining an orchestra, brass band etc... also builds confidence as there are people all around u that will support u.

Yes, I do agree that performing in front of a large group of people does give you more self confidence. Personally, I've always had butterflies in my stomach just before the examination. It doesn't help to know that I've got sweaty palms as well. However, things did change until this year, when this steward, after having seen how much of a bunch of nerves I was, told me to calm down, and just treat the whole thing as a performance...like when one is performing in front of one's teacher. It did wonders in soothing my taut nerves. And thanks to her, I scored a distinction for my exam.

My piano teacher always makes me play in school assembly and stuff before an exam and it soooo helps because I learn to play with shaking hands, butterflies in stomach, etc.!

Have a mock exam. I've never had one for an ABRSM exam, but I did have one for my GCSE and A-level recitals, and these helped no end. They were marked in exactly the same way as if they were the real thing, so as well as gaining the experience it also provided as assessment of standard. My A-level one was especially good as my teacher was a performance marker for the exam board, so he acted as he would with students he didn't know. The mocks included everything that would be on the final exam, including the sight reading and improvisiation. Even though I needn't have done the A-level one, because it was the morning after I got my grade eight results and I was playing the same pieces so my teachers said the mock would be academic, I did it anyway and felt that it was a valuable experience.

This can be combined with playing infront of people - my teacher for GCSE organised a small concert where my GCSE class (nine or so of us) played the pieces we'd be playing for our recitals in the music room where the recital would take place infront of a small audience of only the invited friends and family of those performing. This was especially valuable for people with little performance experience, as after they'd played infront of other people, playing infront of one person and a tape recorder in the real recital didn't seem so bad.

Mocks for ABRSM exams would therefore be great experience. Perhaps local teachers could get together and do them for each other's pupils, so that the pupil is examined by a stranger?

I also think it is also important to select a suitable room for the exam - I did most if not all of my ABRSM exams in a massive performance studio at my local music school, a huge room with space for full orchestra and a large audience, and there I was alone in the middle of that room with an examiner at a desk and an accompanist at a grand piano, in the middle of a huge space (the exams didn't even take place on the stage, which wouldn't have been so bad, but in the middle of the floor area). At grade eight I relished it, at grade two I was terrified (I never did grade one), and I can see how that would be enough to put people off for life! You feel so exposed and isolated. My GCSE and A-level recitals were in classroom sized rooms, which was much less daunting, and undoubtedly warmer (which means a lot when you play the flute!). Perhaps pupils of lower grades could do their exams in smaller rooms, and work up gradually, e.g. moving up for grade six or so?

My teacher (piano) always gives her pupils mock exams. She recreates the whole exam "experience" very well, and she writes comments on a sheet v. similar to the mark form you get after the real exam. The first mock I did with her was for Gr5, and I wasn't nervous playing in front of her, but she was a really hard marker, and I got according to her 125 merit. However, over the next week, I focused on improving the comments she'd made on the mark form, and come the exam, I felt really ready. I was still nervous beforehand, but I knew what to expect. I ended up getting a disinction (135)!!

Even though nerves can wreck a performance, it's being aware of the fact that you feel nervous beforehand that allows you to control the nerves. It's really just the adrenaline beforehand, which makes you feel sick before you go in, but afterwards, you feel fine. Or I do anyway!

QUOTE (pianoforte @ Apr 9 2004, 10:24 AM)

Even though nerves can wreck a performance, it's being aware of the fact that you feel nervous beforehand that allows you to control the nerves. It's really just the adrenaline beforehand, which makes you feel sick before you go in

i feel sick before most of my exams. i know im nervous beforehand and i can never control my nerves and then my performance is a complete disaster!!!

Nat

On the day, I always play my pieces through about twice each, and go over my least confident scales, and then I do someting totally unrelated so I don't think about the exam quite as much. If your pieces go wrong wen your pratising cos you are so nervous then it gets you really worked up, so maybe in some ways, the more you practise, the more nervous it makes you.

While I don't normally suffer from nerves too badly, I tried a hypnotherapy tape for "Relaxation" in the months before my LRSM (piano) performance exam last year.

Doing the simple breathing exercises described in the tape both at the start of the exam and between pieces meant that I was completely relaxed throughout.

QUOTE

i feel sick before most of my exams. i know im nervous beforehand and i can never control my nerves and then my performance is a complete disaster!!!

Try eating a bannana 10 minutes before you're about to perform. It's a natural source of beta blocker and neutralises the acids in your mouth (especially good for brass/woodwind). I do this with my pupils and it does work.

You get nervous when you are in a situation that you don't feel comfortable with and cannot get out of. Try to imagine the worst thing that could happen and it will effect your performance. But if you imagine that you will give the performance of your life and everything will go to plan then it will.

Douglas Yeo (Bass Trombone Boston Pops Orchestra) has an excellent web site and a good section on preparation for performance and performance anxiety. Not sure of the web address.

Good luck all

QUOTE (Bomaellis @ Jun 20 2004, 12:43 PM)

Douglas Yeo (Bass Trombone Boston Pops Orchestra) has an excellent web site and a good section on preparation for performance and performance anxiety. Not sure of the web address.

Thanks Bomaellis I have found the article here.

QUOTE (pianoforte @ Apr 9 2004, 10:24 AM)

My teacher (piano) always gives her pupils mock exams. She recreates the whole exam "experience" very well, and she writes comments on a sheet v. similar to the mark form you get after the real exam.

My teacher does a mock exam too, which helps me a lot because I know what to expect. Then he tells me what I need to improve to get better marks in the real thing!

i did a mock exam too and got 131, my teacher examines so it was most likely an accurate score. however, i felt much more relaxed playing infront of her than i did in my exam. beforehand im always quite relaxed and calm, and usually throughout. but at the last minute this time i decided to do my peices first, and made a few mistakes (partly because i found the pedal difficult and the dynamics were difficult to achieve on the piano), and then completely messed up my scales. so that all made me nervous in the actual exam. and im always nervous afterwards. the difference between the atmospheres of my mock exam and the actual thing were obvious in the results - i dropped to 125.

Strangely enough if I play in front of people I don't feel nervous, it's only when there is an experienced teacher/musician behind me looking for flaws in my playing I get super nervous.

When I was young I thought in this way : If I play a mistake, continue. If I don't cnotinue. If my interpretation is bad today, so be it.

But now I'm now thinking like : I'm prbably going to make a mistake now, (makes a mistake) oh no! That was horrible!

You've got to be so on top of the music that you could play it in your sleep. You've also got to keep the thought in your head that the examiner would rather hear you play well than badly - a good performance actually delights them and makes their day! This is a more helpful thought to keep in your head than the idea that they're just looking for flaws.

Violinia

and showmanship they also appreciate this too.

SMILE! Smiling releases endorphins - the natural feel-good hormones produced by the pituitary gland (I think) that make all your nerves fly away... in theory anyway...

how can you smile when you're walking into an exam?! im more likely to cry!

it's perfectly possible to smile even if you don't feel like it - try it now!! *breaks into huuuge grin*

smiling also eases a headache.

however forced smiling for long periods of time makes the cheeks hurt.

i will try ever so hard to smile on Saturday as i walk into my exam shaking like god knows what!

I can normally manage a smile, but about half way through the first piece, i get really nervous and start to feel sick and need the loo! Not helpful in an exam!

ok smile is the key


smile, smile, smile........must remember to smile

QUOTE

however forced smiling for long periods of time makes the cheeks hurt.

and brings the headache back ??

Maggie

Your brain can't tell the difference between a false smile and a genuine smile, so it is a good way of lifting the spirits.

Visualise yourself passing, and enjoying your performance. Remind yourself of the things that you know you do well, and that your teacher praises you for.

Someone once told me the difference between fear and excitement is just a deep breath. When I started to feel nervous about my exam, I just said to myself "No i'm not scared, i'm excited."

The best thing though is to be prepared. To know that you have worked the pieces up to and beyond a good passing standard. It's about knowing you're prepared and are capable of doing well.

Then before you go in, spend some time grounding yourself. Check your posture - stand as though you are a world class professional, don't slouch or slump! Feel the ground under your feet. If you're sitting and waiting, sit squarely in the chair with both feet firmly placed on the ground, sit up straight (again, remember you're a world class professional here!) and allow all your organs the space they need to function well. Take some slow steady breaths, breathing in to the count of five and out again to the count of five.

Allow extra time for travelling - this is not the time to be stuck in a traffic jam and worrying whether you will make it. Far better to be a little bit too early. Also allow time to warm up.

As you play your pieces, be aware that you have played them hundreds of times over, so they are as familiar to you as your comfiest pair of socks.

These are just some thoughts.


Amber
x

QUOTE (maggiemay @ Nov 24 2004, 08:58 AM)

QUOTE however forced smiling for long periods of time makes the cheeks hurt.   and brings the headache back ?? Maggie

lol very true... unfortunately...

excellent advice Amber!

I always pray to the Lord before my exams^^
and i often do well

QUOTE (pianist_1210 @ Nov 25 2004, 03:19 AM)

I always pray to the Lord before my exams^^ and i often do well

that works for some people - not the atheists though!

Amber - I totally agree with you, preparedness, believing it (the "I know I can I know I can I know I can" mantra!!!), deep breathing (think Zen, Yogi, Buddha!) and smiling like you own the world, or won the lottery or someting!....and now let's see if I can put that into practice in three weeks' time -
LOL

How do you control the shakes?
In my Grade 7 piano (admittedly the first piano exam I'd done in over 25 years!!), I felt absolutely fine until I sat down at the piano........and then my hands turned to jelly! Fast Handel with jelly-fingers is most unpleasant!

QUOTE (Petite Joueuse @ Dec 7 2004, 10:35 PM)

How do you control the shakes? In my Grade 7 piano (admittedly the first piano exam I'd done in over 25 years!!), I felt absolutely fine until I sat down at the piano........and then my hands turned to jelly! Fast Handel with jelly-fingers is most unpleasant!

Make sure you're breathing properly!!!!

If you do get "the shakes", do something else with your fingers. Lace them, unlace them, play "this is the church, this is the steeple", drum them on the table, shake your hands around... anything to relieve the tension!!

I realize, that if I'm told to play suddenly without any real preparation everything will go well, especially if I'm showing off in front of my friends. But if it's an exam or concert I will feel very nervous because of pressure...

I believe that the best performances are achieved in practice, not performance...

QUOTE (DGA @ Jan 23 2005, 07:12 AM)

I believe that the best performances are achieved in practice, not performance...

me too. although I prefer playing in front of people I don't know than my friends...

QUOTE (Bomaellis @ Jun 20 2004, 12:43 PM)

QUOTE i feel sick before most of my exams. i know im nervous beforehand and i can never control my nerves and then my performance is a complete disaster!!! Try eating a bannana 10 minutes before you're about to perform. It's a natural source of beta blocker and neutralises the acids in your mouth (especially good for brass/woodwind). I do this with my pupils and it does work.

yep! bananas are brilliant for that. they also give you a bit of a blood sugar boost without making you go haywire, and keep you from feeling hungry if you haven't eaten that recently without lying heavy on your stomach (which is nasty if you're trying to really perform something on the flute or another wind instrument)

Anything else you'd recommend, or any way to make me like bananas? The thought of them just makes me feel ill!!!!!!!!!!!!

bananas are growing on me! but when im nervous, i feel to sick to eat anythin

I don't like bananas. I drink lots of water before concerts because it doesn't taste of anything but then I always end up needing the loo so it's probably not the best of ideas!!!

Apparently strawberry ices are good for finding sea legs on ships - maybe they can calm nerves before concerts too?

i dont really like water either, because it doesnt taste of anythin!

lol that's a new one! I haven't met anyone that doesn't like water before!!!!!! how do you live?

i dont live! im secretly a ghost ooooh!

QUOTE (clarinetlover @ Jan 23 2005, 01:39 PM)

i dont really like water either, because it doesnt taste of anythin!

I don't like it either for the same reason but it's okay with flavourings (i.e. cordial). I really can't drink fizzy water it makes me feel sick becuase my brain can't cope with the fact that it's fizzy but doesn't taste of anything .

For something on topic (which has probably been said already....) just remember that you'll never see the examiner again so it doesn't matter it you make a fool of yourself.

I don't mind water, but bananas sound like they make you feel less nervous. Does chocolate do the same?

I love water! people are always telling me I'm good for drinking water, but it's only because I genuinely like it. Hate the fizzy stuff though!

Nicki: I don't know if chocolate helps nerves, but you shouldn't have milk or white before a flute exam as it can make you "claggy" in your throat, not the best prep for a wind instrument exam! don't know about dark though. has a certain amount of caffeine, I believe, depends how you react to that!

Hmm, so is that basically no dairy or bread products before an exam or just no bread, no milk?

depends on how much you react, but I would certainly recommend no chocolate or glasses of milk on exam day.

QUOTE (sarah-flute @ Jan 23 2005, 04:47 PM)

"claggy"

*shivers* I hate that word!!

QUOTE (sarah-flute @ Jan 23 2005, 04:54 PM)

depends on how much you react, but I would certainly recommend no chocolate or glasses of milk on exam day.

I second that, particularly for the lactose intolerant.

However it has been proved that cheese contains amino acids which are good for relaxation... maybe eating cheese (if you're not singing or playing a wind/brass instrument) might help calm you down?

There's some stuff you can get in Boots or somewhere called something like "Relaxation Oil" - it's basically pure alcohol but it works!

Ergh, I hate just milk.

I don't think I am lactose intolerant, but I apparently couldn't have cow's milk when I was younger...not especially like the stuff now, but can eat cheese and stuff without a problem.

No chocolate before my exam! Hehe, I hope it isn't an afternoon one!!

QUOTE (cheeble @ Jan 23 2005, 04:58 PM)

QUOTE (sarah-flute @ Jan 23 2005, 04:47 PM) "claggy" *shivers* I hate that word!!

eeep! sorry! it is very accurate in its description, though...

nicki: if there's any chance you are in any degree intolerant to cow's milk, don't eat cheese either before a flute exam! it can be worse.

this relaxation "oil", do you drink it or rub it in?????!

I'm not lactose intolerant, apparently it's the whey portion of the cow's milk that disagrees with me trust me to be difficult! I have goat's milk instead - sadly it's much more expensive, but on the plus side it doesn't make me feel vile AND it tastes nicer than cow's milk IMO!

Maybe because when I have either tea or cereal with milk in the mornings I get stomach cramps, and that is generally every day!

I am trying to think of what to eat, seeing as I don't like fruit either!