A good chunk of both my teaching and coaching work involves helping musicians manage their nerves. In effect, this is how to manage themselves and the performance space so that nerves don’t get the better of them and they are free to perform at their best.
What I recommend is incredibly simple and yet very powerful. In short, these tips really work. There is one caveat: they need to be practised in advance to be of any use when it really matters.
Take long, slow deep breaths
Breathing is so simple and yet so effective in calming nerves. It tells the primal, survival part of you that you’re not going to be chased by a bear and that you’re safe. You simply can’t be expressive if you perceive you’re in some kind of danger and breathing brings you back into your centre faster than anything else.
Perhaps try breathing in for 4 counts and out for 8, but don’t get hung up on how to breathe. Just do it, slowly and calmly. That immediately counteracts shallow, jittery, adrenalised breathing. Do this as you’re waiting to go on. It’s a wonderful way of both calming your nerves and helping you gather your focus.
Walk slowly into the performing space – and breathe
When your adrenalin kicks in, your perception of time changes and everything speeds up. When you walk slowly, you consciously give yourself time. This counteracts the nervous buzz from the adrenalin and will calm you. You can also breathe as you walk, which reminds your body to be free and ready for action.
As well as this, the audience sees you as calm and in control, they will relax themselves. No audience wants the discomfort of watching a performer overtaken by nerves, giving out signals that they’d rather not be there.
Smile at the audience
When you smile you release endorphins, and this can make you feel better. If you’re not used to smiling at the audience and feel self-conscious, it’s worth giving it some attention so that it becomes a normal part of your performance. It’s also a way of making a positive and all-important connection with the audience.
Adjust the stool or the music stand
It can feel destabilising if the stool or the music stand is at the wrong height so don’t leave this to chance. Each performer needs to have their own check list for when they’re on stage, such as resin on the bow, reeds for an oboe player, a glass of water for a singer. It’s easy to forget the simplest things when adrenalin is active, and feeling secure with these practicalities will support you in playing at your best.
Settle before you start playing by counting to three
Knowing that adrenalin changes your perception of time, make sure you consciously create time just before you start playing. Get everything ready, count to three and take a long, slow breath before you start. This not only supports and calms you, but it also gives the audience a chance to prepare for the performance.
If you’re working with a pianist, let them know how you are going to manage those few moments, so they’re prepared as well.
A mantra at the ready
Nobody wants to contemplate anything going wrong in a performance but it’s always a good idea to be prepared just in case. You need something that will help you physically and another to help you emotionally, and it’s essential that each is simple enough that it can be done when you’re in the middle of a performance.
Breathe:
It’s simple, and yet breathing in the middle of playing, even if you can only breathe in the rests, is remarkably powerful with a sudden attack of nerves.
A mantra:
Find a simple saying you can repeat while you’re playing to soothe and reassure yourself. Something like: “It’s ok, it’s ok.” The words themselves aren’t important; it't the feeling you want to conjure up.
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