I've got 2 music exams coming up- both in the same week Probably even on the same day. I asked both teachers to try and get the Saturday for me, but one had got the wrong date. So now I think I've got two exams on two different instruments in two different venues on the same day (probably ) Hopefully not at the same time

Grade 5 flute (with trinity guildhall though) and grade 2 piano.

I've only taken one exam before, grade 3 flute at Christmas. I got distinction but managed to muck up one of the pieces. I glanced at the examiner, who smiled at me. I automatically smiled back- which is not good when playing the flute

So... does anyone have any tips for not completely mucking up in a tangley mess of nerves?

Eat a banana.

Don't rush into starting your pieces.
When the examiner says 'when you are ready' make sure that it IS when you are ready.
Take a steady breath and think about how you want to sound and the speed you want to play before starting.
With the Flute take another breath after putting your flute to your mouth, then start.

Don't look at the examiner?

Go into the room looking your most confident (even if underneath you are a total bag of nerves), smile and say "Good morning/afternoon". Settle yourself in before playing and give yourself time between pieces. Remember they are there to hear you try your best on that particular day....and despite your tangle, you still managed a distinction, which is excellent.

Good luck.

Pretend that no-one's there and make sure that you find nothing funny

and a bar of chocolate

just relax and do some finishing touches
Good luck

just don't think about it and play your best. the more you think, the worse it gets.

Don't be put off if there are two examiners. And if there are two examiners, don't be put off if they make signs and noises to each other while you're playing - I let myself get seriously put off by this when I did my one and only exam (grade 7 flute).

First and most important:
Learn your material thoroughly. Memorize your pieces if you can (even if you prefer to play with the score in the exam itself). It will make your performance more fluent and confident.

Other tips on preparation

Get a few early nights in the days before the exam(s).

Plan your journey to arrive in good time without rushing.

If part of your journey is on foot, take a change of clothes as a precaution against getting soaked on the way there.

Make a checklist of everything you need to take with you.
(And check with it before you leave home!)

In the exam:
Listen carefully to any instructions

Breathe deeply from the diaphragm if you feel stressed

Take your time. Be sure you are clear in your mind what you are going to do before you start each item.

Just keep telling yourself "I can do it! I can do it!"

You've work hard and it's time to show the examiner what you're capable of! Even though you probably will think that you're not prepared enough, etc. Everyone feels the same.

Enjoy yourself. I mean, you have to enjoy your pieces to be playing them in the first place? While playing try to just let the familiar music help you relax. I found that when I 'got into' the music, I couldn't even remember that the examiner was there!

Try your best, smile (NOT when you're playing!! smiling does help to calm some nerves down), and you'll surprise yourself

GOOD LUCK!

Haha I'd recommend saying hello to the examiner and asking how his day was.
It kinda breaks the ice and the tension.

offer him ketchup/salt for when he eats you

Somehow it seems it's all about using the adrenaline to your advantage. I have no idea how you do this, however, but I managed to pull my last exam off despite being a gibbering wreck inside and pretty much hyperventilating in between pieces.

If you are going to go for the banana/chocolate option, don't do so directly before the exam, or you'll feel sicky and the flute will get gummy. Try an hour before. I'm not convinced, but others have found them useful.

Practise the bits which you don't normally, like walking in, putting up your music, settling, and starting to play. Do this in the clothes you intend wearing for the exam.

I try to give each piece a bit of space: think through the first few bars in your head before you start, to get a sense of the pulse, and only then start. Ignoring the examiner completely isn't actually a great idea - you want the music to go somewhere, to give it that sense of projection, so think about your music reaching the examiner and the space behind them too.

Mistakes happen. With the best will in the world, with even the most careful preparation, even a professional will make mistakes. The difficult bit is recovering from those: learning to move on, not to stumble further and not letting yourself think things like "bother, I never do that normally". Again, practising playing through and not stopping can help: we know about the difficult bits we tend to fudge up, and can prepare for those, but other gremlins do crop up, and won't necessarily interfere with marks. I got a high mark for technical ability in my last exam, even having made some very audible bloopers - what counts is keeping the musical sense going.

And yes, be rested before you go in. I didn't play at all the day before my last two exams, as I've found I play better for a rest. Practising up to the last minute can introduce new errors you didn't make before, and make you worry about them...

Good luck .