Performance Anxiety

Charlotte Tomlinson

Dec 21, 2023

Performing disasters

Performing disasters. What a musician considers to be a performing disaster is very personal

Charlotte Tomlinson

Dec 21, 2022

How the Balinese approach performance

When I mentioned the word performance anxiety to a Balinese man, he simply laughed. They don't have it!

Moving through nerves in a safe public performing space

Charlotte Tomlinson

Oct 27, 2022

Moving through nerves in a safe public performing space

It is essential to give performers the experience of managing their nerves in front of an audience which feels emotionally safe to them.

Managing nerves during demanding performances

Charlotte Tomlinson

Jul 28, 2022

Managing nerves during demanding performances

Managing nerves during demanding performances Sam was attempting to play a difficult Beethoven piano sonata on stage in front of his...

Interview Part 3: Symptoms of performance anxiety in musicians

Charlotte Tomlinson

Mar 22, 2022

Interview Part 3: Symptoms of performance anxiety in musicians

What we’re aiming for is a kind of meditative focus on stage without this horrible barrier of fear and anxiety.

Interview Part 2: Symptoms of performance anxiety in musicians

Charlotte Tomlinson

Feb 28, 2022

Interview Part 2: Symptoms of performance anxiety in musicians

Our bullying, critical culture has really got its teeth into classical musicians and the Inner Critic can have a devastating impact.

Interview Part 1: Symptoms of performance anxiety in musicians

Charlotte Tomlinson

Jan 31, 2022

Interview Part 1: Symptoms of performance anxiety in musicians

A bit of adrenaline that just heightens everything can be positive but the fight-flight response can cause big problems for musicians

Musicians and Trauma: finding emotional safety

Charlotte Tomlinson

Oct 5, 2021

Musicians and Trauma: finding emotional safety

Most of people I work with have had trauma of one sort or another. I support musicians in finding a way they can feel safe when they play

Performance anxiety: permission to be fallible

Charlotte Tomlinson

Jul 19, 2021

Performance anxiety: permission to be fallible

I have seen the influence of bullying teaching impact musicians in a way that they are terrified of not being perfect enough

Charlotte Tomlinson

Apr 20, 2021

Perfectionism: a tough task master

Perfectionism is the drive to give a ‘perfect performance’ with a feeling of not being good enough - dangerous for a performer.

Managing adrenalin: winding down after a performance

Charlotte Tomlinson

Jun 29, 2020

Managing adrenalin: winding down after a performance

We musicians often discuss preparing for our performance and the performance itself, but rarely do we consider what happens post-performance

Singing when your body is tight with anxiety & finding emotional safety

Charlotte Tomlinson

May 13, 2020

Singing when your body is tight with anxiety & finding emotional safety

I worked with a soprano at one of the main British conservatoires who was petrified at singing in front of the vocal department.

Performance anxiety: being stuck and how to unlock it

Charlotte Tomlinson

Apr 15, 2020

Performance anxiety: being stuck and how to unlock it

I’ve been working with a musician recently who has been struggling with performance nerves and finds auditions for orchestras challenging.

Performance Anxiety: general top tips used in Lockdown

Charlotte Tomlinson

Mar 26, 2020

Performance Anxiety: general top tips used in Lockdown

Here are a few things that I find myself saying to nervous musicians in masterclasses, and each time, they have a drama impact.

Stage craft and how to manage Performance Anxiety

Charlotte Tomlinson

Dec 21, 2019

Stage craft and how to manage Performance Anxiety

I’ve been thinking about the importance of stage craft for musicians recently and how little time is given to this in music education.

Charlotte Tomlinson

Mar 15, 2019

Finding emotional safety on stage

How to find emotional safety on stage, managing fear and anxiety in performance and calming the Inner Critic.

Auditions: the ultimate in stressful performances

Charlotte Tomlinson

Feb 14, 2019

Auditions: the ultimate in stressful performances

Tips on how to manage auditions, the ultimate in stressful performances for musicians.

Tendonitis: avoid it with a body-centred approach

Charlotte Tomlinson

Oct 22, 2018

Tendonitis: avoid it with a body-centred approach

Tips for avoiding tendonitis for pianists and other instruments with a body-centred approach plus the emotional component.

Performance anxiety as a result of trauma

Charlotte Tomlinson

Jul 19, 2018

Performance anxiety as a result of trauma

It has occurred to me this month when teaching and coaching how incredibly important practice is for the performance we give at the end...

Musings about mental health issues and its relationship to performance anxiety

Charlotte Tomlinson

Jun 13, 2018

Musings about mental health issues and its relationship to performance anxiety

How mental health issues can affect performance anxiety in musicians.