James Kramer I believe what he meant is that you pay a good bit of attention and listen to the details in your playing in order to "fix" them and figure out what can make it better
Not the best advice i think, even though i know what it has meant to say. Dont look at any other pianist as your rival and dont copmare to others in way - hes better than me, i must get better than him. Enjoy the sound which comes from the piano even if its a very simple piece and listen carefuly
@cute dar bs doesn't matter, it's about forgetting that part. Bring your focus back to your own enjoyment, you will naturally play better. If possible, close your eyes if you have to. That may help move your focus from the stage fright to the emotion in your playing. Whatever you do, think about the music, not the people. My original comment in this thread is 5 years old but it still works for me.
In the end of the day, music is something meant for pure enjoyment. Missing a few notes or even bombing completely will not ruin anything - you're not performing surgery or sending a rocket to space. Sometimes it gets so overanalyzed that you sort of lose that grasp of reality.
Thatś wonderful! You inspire others when you share such comments. I started learning guitar at 40 and for a long time felt that I was too old to begin. But I continued, and now after 4 years I know better. One is never too old. I am enjoying it. Although I still lack the courage to perform, and I get really nervous.
Im a guitar performer here and i wanna give on tip.......the ppl in the audience dont care if you made a mistake as long as u tried and wanted to be there
I'd like to add two more: - Magnify your motions. Take just a little bit more time for everything to overcome your nerves. - Try to be conscious of your breathing. Breathe more deeply.
Same here. Even though I learn to play piano as a hobby and not for professional performance, I get extremely nervous and my fingers are shaking and weak when I have playing quiz.
I have a recital tonight, and this is my thinking process before I play... "Let go of your ego, you are a server of music, focus on the purpose, and your purpose is to transport music to people's ears, to communicate what has been written through music to others, you've done your job by practicing, now play to God and surrender, be present, because this moment shall pass, so try to enjoy it as much as you can."
Wish I would have watched this earlier. I tried to play Clare De Lune in church on Sunday for my wife's birthday. I had been working on it since December and, while I didn't have it 100% ready, thought I could get through it. I also thought my nerves would calm down once I started but once I hit the arpeggio section and started making mistakes, my hands started to shake uncontrollably so I stopped because there was no chance of recovery. However, I did watch another video of yours about practicing a new piece and began to practice from the back moving forward. Thanks for all your tips. I"ll keep watching.
Thank you so much Josh. I also find comfort in reading all these comments and realizing that "we're all in this together". We're all human, we all deal with the challenge of nerves / stage fright, no matter what level we've achieved. We all go through it and it's OK. Somehow, I find that reassuring.
your #1 is most important, self worth not determined by how i play. What i do is 20 min before the performance I talk to myself for 5 minutes aloud using my own name and i listen to my own voice as if i was really talking to myself as a parent and try to tell i love you no matters how you do tonight. I know it sounds silly or schizophrenic but it works. It has to do with reaching that subconscious part of your brain with the power of suggestion as we all know it cannot be ordered you have to make friend and make a pact with it before your perform. Some people may call it meditation but it's the same thing and you have to speak aloud and accept yourself. During the performance you have to live in the moment, see that roll turning slowly and if you brain "thinks", just a hint of the pact you made with your subconscious brain and it will stay back and be nice to you.
Every time I have to perform, I come back to this video. it's the first time though that I read the comments. And I thought I was the only one in the world withstage anxiety.... I'm surprised this is so common. I always think I'm the only one to mess up a performance... Thankyou guys for sharing.
I know I'm 2 years late but oh well. Let me just say NOT BY A LONG SHOT, there are millions of people (including myself) that have stage fright. This video and a couple others helped me work through mine, so if you're still struggling, I hope you overcome it. Goodluck!
@@natethestrange_VA It's getting better in the way that I've learned to accept that a few mistakes don't really mess the whole of the performance. And experience has taught me that even when I make a few mistakes in a first song or etude, I'm usually composed or serene enough to perform really well the rest of the concert.
When ever I'm trying to prove I can play a peice to a teacher or playing in exams I always mess up even when I can normally play the song in my sleep I needed this thank you
What I used to do for the small concerts my teacher used to organise is really play for myself. Basically pretend I'm sitting in the audience simply wanting to enjoy beautiful music. Most of the audience won't focus on things you do wrong but enjoy the things you do well, so I try to do that as well. It really helps me not get stuck on small mistakes I make.
I fully agree. I sang in an opera several years ago and had a short aria and I always messed it up in rehearsals. I were never in the moment, I just wanted it to be over. When it was time for performace I had never sung the aria flawless. Then, just a minute or so befor it was time for me to enter the stage, I thought ”This is beautifull music. I dont ever want it to stop” So instead of thinking it will soon be over I was present in the moment and every performance went flawless.
I never overcame stage fright. I played Franz Liszt Paganini Etude No. 6 when I was 12 at Carnegie Hall. By the time I was 17, I gave it up. The reason I quit was the pieces were getting harder and the pressure of being perfect or I should say the pressure of my performance being perfect, gave me ulcers. Franz Liszt pieces were my favorite to play, they were so fast, fluid and kept my fingers nimble.
I don't blame you...the stress of performing week after week could literally kill you. Even the great Horowitz was laid low by performance anxiety and this is when he was already well established.
My issues with state fright always make me mess up my playing for exams, concerts and competitions. My hands always freeze up and shake. I have lots of stage experience but every time I still mess up. Thanks for the video
I wish my teacher helped me 30 years ago. I started playing piano again with my kids. Noticed that I still have same issue. Discovered this video and now I hope it will help my kids as well. Thank you!
I've been performing regularly since I was 6 and am 20 now. Between the ages of 6 to about 18, I never had to worry about memorizing anything. That is in fact one of my strong sides - to remember longer and complex pieces quickly. It's mostly just muscle memory, but I don't ever have to think about memorizing. I just play, and usually it works out. Lately though, I've gotten more worried. It has happened several times during performances that I think stupid thoughts like "which tone comes next?". If I don't think those thoughts, it's never a problem, but as soon as they come to mind, I get distracted. One performance, I even started at the wrong octave, simply because I got paranoid. But a good side to this is that now that I've experienced this terrible thing and now that it has ruined my performances several times, I've learned how it feels and what the worst thing that can happen is. That on its own kind of takes away the fear element.
I've been struggling with the things you mentioned for 11 YEARS, so basically, every time I went on a stage. things like having paranoid thoughts, even starting at the wrong octave (which is very funny on the other side,, 'cause i really had no idea where the hack was i supposed to start the piece from). Unfortunately, till the last performance, I couldn't overcome this fear of stage. Just lately I've started to look at things a bit differently and really just play for my own satisfaction, 'cause it really makes me happy. I don't really know how well I'm doing so far, i've not performed in front of the audience yet, but i really feel like I'm doing better and better.
@@yourpersonaljesus3802 It's interesting looking back at this 2-3 years later. I guess after a while you just realize that there are more important things to focus on than distracting thoughts. In my past few concerts at the conservatory I've been so focused on what to think about (musically) during a performance and how to improve my playing as much as possible, that I haven't had any room for other thoughts, especially on stage. A friend of mine had a blackout though, and we talked a lot about it. He couldn't finish one of the movements and had to move on. I think in a situation like that it's about how you handle the situation - if you take it somewhat lightly and just move on the audience definitely won't hate you for it. We're all human after all! I hope you'll get over the thoughts though! In the end it's about realizing that they're pointless and to replace them with thoughts that, quite the opposite, benefit the performance positively. At least that's what worked for me - actively practicing what to think about when performing and how it influences the result.
Great tips. Practice performing is really good. I tend to get more nervous if I'm practicing right before the concert & I mess up a passage that usually didn't give me trouble before. Do you have any suggestions for that? :)
It really helps me to practice the piece really slowly first. If I mess up a passage I stimulate tension and get very scared, but practicing slowly gives me a nice feeling of control
Thank you for your words of wisdom. I've always struggled with the concept of self-worth based on person hood as opposed to merits. Deep down, I know the former is true but it was good to reminded of it. It's important to be careful not to confuse what you feel with what you know because your feelings can be deceitful sometimes. God bless you.
I loved the introduction of the video with the third ballade! I'm always excited to see a new video upload on your channel. Keep up the great work, Josh!
I'm gonna sing and play piano for my entire family on the birthday of my great uncle and I'm stressed as hell but this is helping me so much, thank you
Thanks for these great tips. Very helpful! I get really nervous before my exam and hence am not able to perform as well as I could. Will try to follow these tips. Hope I can do better in the next grade.
Out of ALL the the videos I watched on this topic today, this BY FAR IS THE BEST ADVICE I've heard today! THANK YOU SO MUCH for sharing! This was enlightening and beautiful 💓 Sending you so much love!
I just had my second recital with my piano teacher (played Träumerei) and I was super nervous, my hands shaking, heartbeat through the roof... I hope to do better next year thanks to your advice. I specially loved the one about being present. 🙏😉
I have severe anxiety even when practicing 😖😖 so I always have to muffle it with the middle pedal + stop practicing a lot, sometimes I don’t even practice for an entire week. Even if I practiced, i will still, mess it up when I have to play it in front of my teacher. This has been going for at least 5-6 years. I hope this can be cured one day, I really need to build up my skills more.
I have told many students who came into our home about #3. Getting too anxious about "getting ready" for that one hard part and ignoring what you are playing is only going to make it worse. Taking things one measure at a time and, if you must, even just think "I don't need to worry about that part, I've done it during practice so I can do it when it comes." And if you still mess up, whatever, just move on and keep practicing. And #5!! Oh, #5!!!!! I can't tell you how much I need to practice performing before it's showtime for me. Play more for people and it will help when you play for more people when it really counts!
I find that it helps my nerves a lot to play in a packed auditorium... packed with empty seats, that is! ; - ) All kidding aside, thanks very much for your advice here, Josh. Another thing that helps (if the performer has the luxury to actually undertake it) is to greet members of the audience as they are filling the perfrmance room/concert hall and thank them for coming. This helped me a great deal in the somewhat informal atmosphere of a performance room in which I was just about to give a harpsichord recital. Thanks again for all of your very helpful pianist's advice videos, Josh.
Great stuff, Josh. One of my main goals this summer is to learn to relax and enjoy myself on stage, so I'll definitely be putting these tips to the test.
When i grew up my parents were like judges to my playing. I never felt in pressure until i began to think of playing the Piano as serious stuff. When some guys or your parents see you have potential, sometimes you are challenged to music you never played before or heard. I played classical stuff and i am from Perú(our mostly popular music used Internationally is Criolla's music). Wich i only heard like 10 times in my whole life. My parents loved that music and wanted me to play. Of course i had a piano mentor(asked him but wasn't his speciality). I tried and tried by myself and made it happened. I am so proud now. That achievement broken a lot of nervous stuff but not all of it. We have weaknesses and mine was getting my fingers frozen at springs(this made my piano practising harder than everything i did by myself). I solved this by getting Centrum Vitamins. I am a happy piano player right now.
From personal experience a lot of this also applies to recording (even when alone).... as soon as that record button is pressed then you tighten up so much you rarely give your best performance.
So very helpful. This is info. That we store in the file cabinets of my mind. Pulling all of your tips forward all at the same time is so very helpful.
Thank you so much for the wonderful tips here, you are indeed amazing. Just a small request whether you would continue producing more Pro practice lessons such as Chopin op 10 no 5 and maybe a particular video dealing with polyrhythm? I am looking forward to your videos. Thank you for reading my post.
Really good tips, Josh. I teach pedal steel guitar, both live and over Skype, and am working with one student in particular who has trouble consistently playing difficult licks he thought he'd mastered onstage with bands (I've often had the same trouble!). I think your ideas here can help him (andme), I appreciate your sharing these insights.
Nice tips Josh! Thanks. I especially find 'listening to the music' while I play extremely helpful. As opposed to thinking 'what chord or fingering is next'.
Thank you for your advices! I would like to ask, before all these technologies such as videos, camera and so on came. How did the pianists back in the days practice performing please? Yes you can invite your friends and so on, but it don’t believe that you can invite friends every single time you practice, yes? Thank you very much!
My teacher is making us take a playing test in band and there's 37 people in the class and my crush is in it too. I am really nervous but it's nice to know other people can relate.
Wow...this is GOOD SHIT...I been playing long time and he is right...overthinking, worrying about the future of ur pieces?? Will make ur brain Rember to respond consistently as a nervous player...training the BRAIN and subconcious mind is more important than ANYTHING U WILL EVER LEARN
I have terrible anxiety, especially in exams. My heart pounds so hard! My teacher encouraged me to play in small concerts and I have played some duets, but not ready to do a solo. I still get nervous, but the last concert was a little better. Thanks for the tips.
I still shake and when I play by myself it’s perfect but when I play it in front of lots of people it fails miserably and then my teacher thinks I am bad at music😩
Thanks for the advice Josh! This topic is extremely relevant to me as I'm preparing for important piano exams that are fast approaching. The main struggle I have is caring too much about what other people are thinking while I play and it makes me tense up incredibly which is such a hinderance to my performances. Any other tips would be greatly appreciated! :)
Thanks so much! Tomorrow i've got a peformance . I'm playing claire de lune . But on the fast part, before I play it , i get so nervous about it, beacause i know i can't play it perfectly . Sometimes i forget it and don't think about it , but other times it's the only thing I think of .. i just can't controll it . Even though I try not to think about it . Still thank you very much ! These tips sure helped!
Thanks a lot. I have to perform today and I hope today’s concert will be great 😂 (Will update this comment after the concert for myself) The performance was great 😂
This is a huge issue for me and I know the first point is one of my main issue to performing well in public along with thinking ahead and over analyzing the piece as I play.
"Listen to your own playing as though you are a rival pianist, listening in the next room".
~ Franz Liszt
James Kramer Not for stage fright, but for people at Liszt's level that might work.
James Kramer I believe what he meant is that you pay a good bit of attention and listen to the details in your playing in order to "fix" them and figure out what can make it better
Not the best advice i think, even though i know what it has meant to say. Dont look at any other pianist as your rival and dont copmare to others in way - hes better than me, i must get better than him. Enjoy the sound which comes from the piano even if its a very simple piece and listen carefuly
I can't find this quote anywhere online
the replies to this are exactly what I’d expect from the classical crowd 😂
What usually helps me is to keep telling yourself while youre performing that youre playing for yourself, for your own joy. Others come second
Nomad427 me too :D the reason why I came here because I'm performing today. I tell myself that no ones around me
Isn't that egoism?
Andrés Toro no, it’s self confidence.
@@judytian9151 how did it go?
@cute dar bs doesn't matter, it's about forgetting that part. Bring your focus back to your own enjoyment, you will naturally play better. If possible, close your eyes if you have to. That may help move your focus from the stage fright to the emotion in your playing.
Whatever you do, think about the music, not the people. My original comment in this thread is 5 years old but it still works for me.
In the end of the day, music is something meant for pure enjoyment. Missing a few notes or even bombing completely will not ruin anything - you're not performing surgery or sending a rocket to space. Sometimes it gets so overanalyzed that you sort of lose that grasp of reality.
Its 2 years later but I have a performance today. really needed to hear this. thank you
@@abbeyberkon2734 Best of luck to your performance!
@@sender1496 thank you so much!!!
update: It went amazing and I got every note right!!!
@@abbeyberkon2734 I'm glad! It's always fun to be happy with a performance :)
Loved your video and related comments...I’m 73 and one week away from my first recital! I guess never too old to start...
Thatś wonderful! You inspire others when you share such comments. I started learning guitar at 40 and for a long time felt that I was too old to begin. But I continued, and now after 4 years I know better. One is never too old. I am enjoying it. Although I still lack the courage to perform, and I get really nervous.
How did it go, John?
john howd it go?
@@Goosy It was a challenge…the old beginner and the advanced children.
@@JohnKostohryz im having my grade 8 exam near the end of july and i cant even practice piano without sweaty palms
Im a guitar performer here and i wanna give on tip.......the ppl in the audience dont care if you made a mistake as long as u tried and wanted to be there
I'd like to add two more:
- Magnify your motions. Take just a little bit more time for everything to overcome your nerves.
- Try to be conscious of your breathing. Breathe more deeply.
When I play/or focus hard on the tasks I'm doing I naturally stop breathing
Thank you Josh, I am having issues stage fright, even in front of my teacher. This helped a lot, thank you, keep up the great videos.
Same
Same here. Even though I learn to play piano as a hobby and not for professional performance, I get extremely nervous and my fingers are shaking and weak when I have playing quiz.
Definitely the same to me as well
Me too…
I have a recital tonight, and this is my thinking process before I play... "Let go of your ego, you are a server of music, focus on the purpose, and your purpose is to transport music to people's ears, to communicate what has been written through music to others, you've done your job by practicing, now play to God and surrender, be present, because this moment shall pass, so try to enjoy it as much as you can."
Wish I would have watched this earlier. I tried to play Clare De Lune in church on Sunday for my wife's birthday. I had been working on it since December and, while I didn't have it 100% ready, thought I could get through it. I also thought my nerves would calm down once I started but once I hit the arpeggio section and started making mistakes, my hands started to shake uncontrollably so I stopped because there was no chance of recovery. However, I did watch another video of yours about practicing a new piece and began to practice from the back moving forward. Thanks for all your tips. I"ll keep watching.
I’m learning to play Clair de Lune too, and I’m trying to record myself playing it but I always get so nervous
@@ChefGourmet Hows it goingggg
I love that you start the video off like that! :)
***** Thanks Jeremy. I hope you're doing well!
I have performance anxiety just playing what I've been working on for the last week, for my teacher at my lesson. "it sounded better at home"
I know how it feels like..
Thank you so much Josh. I also find comfort in reading all these comments and realizing that "we're all in this together". We're all human, we all deal with the challenge of nerves / stage fright, no matter what level we've achieved. We all go through it and it's OK. Somehow, I find that reassuring.
your #1 is most important, self worth not determined by how i play. What i do is 20 min before the performance I talk to myself for 5 minutes aloud using my own name and i listen to my own voice as if i was really talking to myself as a parent and try to tell i love you no matters how you do tonight. I know it sounds silly or schizophrenic but it works. It has to do with reaching that subconscious part of your brain with the power of suggestion as we all know it cannot be ordered you have to make friend and make a pact with it before your perform. Some people may call it meditation but it's the same thing and you have to speak aloud and accept yourself. During the performance you have to live in the moment, see that roll turning slowly and if you brain "thinks", just a hint of the pact you made with your subconscious brain and it will stay back and be nice to you.
I've been doing this for yearrrrrs for almost every though situation...
5:00 Chopin used to use this method. He used to have a person sitting beside him and the piano during his rehearsals.
Every time I have to perform, I come back to this video. it's the first time though that I read the comments. And I thought I was the only one in the world withstage anxiety.... I'm surprised this is so common. I always think I'm the only one to mess up a performance... Thankyou guys for sharing.
I know I'm 2 years late but oh well. Let me just say NOT BY A LONG SHOT, there are millions of people (including myself) that have stage fright. This video and a couple others helped me work through mine, so if you're still struggling, I hope you overcome it. Goodluck!
@@natethestrange_VA It's getting better in the way that I've learned to accept that a few mistakes don't really mess the whole of the performance. And experience has taught me that even when I make a few mistakes in a first song or etude, I'm usually composed or serene enough to perform really well the rest of the concert.
omg me too ur not the only one
When ever I'm trying to prove I can play a peice to a teacher or playing in exams I always mess up even when I can normally play the song in my sleep I needed this thank you
omg me too happens all the time
What I used to do for the small concerts my teacher used to organise is really play for myself. Basically pretend I'm sitting in the audience simply wanting to enjoy beautiful music. Most of the audience won't focus on things you do wrong but enjoy the things you do well, so I try to do that as well. It really helps me not get stuck on small mistakes I make.
I fully agree. I sang in an opera several years ago and had a short aria and I always messed it up in rehearsals. I were never in the moment, I just wanted it to be over. When it was time for performace I had never sung the aria flawless. Then, just a minute or so befor it was time for me to enter the stage, I thought ”This is beautifull music. I dont ever want it to stop” So instead of thinking it will soon be over I was present in the moment and every performance went flawless.
i spent like all day watching your videos, i feel like you have so much info to offer.
I am not a piano perfermor, i play guitar but this is 100% usefull for any kind of performer, thx! subed now!
You're first tip was the most essential and kudos for that. I think this says alot about you as a person and your philosophy of life
I never overcame stage fright. I played Franz Liszt Paganini Etude No. 6 when I was 12 at Carnegie Hall. By the time I was 17, I gave it up. The reason I quit was the pieces were getting harder and the pressure of being perfect or I should say the pressure of my performance being perfect, gave me ulcers. Franz Liszt pieces were my favorite to play, they were so fast, fluid and kept my fingers nimble.
I don't blame you...the stress of performing week after week could literally kill you. Even the great Horowitz was laid low by performance anxiety and this is when he was already well established.
Play for enjoyment don't give up totally
My issues with state fright always make me mess up my playing for exams, concerts and competitions. My hands always freeze up and shake. I have lots of stage experience but every time I still mess up. Thanks for the video
Aka, deal with it. The more you do it, you get better at it. Never give up!
I wish my teacher helped me 30 years ago. I started playing piano again with my kids. Noticed that I still have same issue. Discovered this video and now I hope it will help my kids as well. Thank you!
Since I was young I told myself that it is not about me, it’s about the music. Seeing myself as the channel for music and nothing more💛
I've been performing regularly since I was 6 and am 20 now. Between the ages of 6 to about 18, I never had to worry about memorizing anything. That is in fact one of my strong sides - to remember longer and complex pieces quickly. It's mostly just muscle memory, but I don't ever have to think about memorizing. I just play, and usually it works out. Lately though, I've gotten more worried. It has happened several times during performances that I think stupid thoughts like "which tone comes next?". If I don't think those thoughts, it's never a problem, but as soon as they come to mind, I get distracted. One performance, I even started at the wrong octave, simply because I got paranoid. But a good side to this is that now that I've experienced this terrible thing and now that it has ruined my performances several times, I've learned how it feels and what the worst thing that can happen is. That on its own kind of takes away the fear element.
I've been struggling with the things you mentioned for 11 YEARS, so basically, every time I went on a stage. things like having paranoid thoughts, even starting at the wrong octave (which is very funny on the other side,, 'cause i really had no idea where the hack was i supposed to start the piece from). Unfortunately, till the last performance, I couldn't overcome this fear of stage. Just lately I've started to look at things a bit differently and really just play for my own satisfaction, 'cause it really makes me happy. I don't really know how well I'm doing so far, i've not performed in front of the audience yet, but i really feel like I'm doing better and better.
@@yourpersonaljesus3802 It's interesting looking back at this 2-3 years later. I guess after a while you just realize that there are more important things to focus on than distracting thoughts. In my past few concerts at the conservatory I've been so focused on what to think about (musically) during a performance and how to improve my playing as much as possible, that I haven't had any room for other thoughts, especially on stage. A friend of mine had a blackout though, and we talked a lot about it. He couldn't finish one of the movements and had to move on. I think in a situation like that it's about how you handle the situation - if you take it somewhat lightly and just move on the audience definitely won't hate you for it. We're all human after all! I hope you'll get over the thoughts though! In the end it's about realizing that they're pointless and to replace them with thoughts that, quite the opposite, benefit the performance positively. At least that's what worked for me - actively practicing what to think about when performing and how it influences the result.
Yes indeed experience is everything
Also how are you doing 24 😌
@@Kinobambino 25 even! These thoughts are now a thing of the past!
Great tips. Practice performing is really good. I tend to get more nervous if I'm practicing right before the concert & I mess up a passage that usually didn't give me trouble before. Do you have any suggestions for that? :)
It really helps me to practice the piece really slowly first. If I mess up a passage I stimulate tension and get very scared, but practicing slowly gives me a nice feeling of control
Thank you for your words of wisdom. I've always struggled with the concept of self-worth based on person hood as opposed to merits. Deep down, I know the former is true but it was good to reminded of it. It's important to be careful not to confuse what you feel with what you know because your feelings can be deceitful sometimes. God bless you.
I loved the introduction of the video with the third ballade! I'm always excited to see a new video upload on your channel. Keep up the great work, Josh!
As soon as I saw your profile picture, I thought it was me😅
I'm gonna sing and play piano for my entire family on the birthday of my great uncle and I'm stressed as hell but this is helping me so much, thank you
Thanks for these great tips. Very helpful! I get really nervous before my exam and hence am not able to perform as well as I could. Will try to follow these tips. Hope I can do better in the next grade.
wow i never thought about practicing performing online... thank you!
Practicing performing really helped me a lot! It helped me feel more confident about the real performance!
Thank you so much josh, i always had stage fright. But after watching this it helped me so much with my recital today and i got 18/20 ❤
Out of ALL the the videos I watched on this topic today, this BY FAR IS THE BEST ADVICE I've heard today! THANK YOU SO MUCH for sharing! This was enlightening and beautiful 💓 Sending you so much love!
I just had my second recital with my piano teacher (played Träumerei) and I was super nervous, my hands shaking, heartbeat through the roof... I hope to do better next year thanks to your advice. I specially loved the one about being present. 🙏😉
I have severe anxiety even when practicing 😖😖 so I always have to muffle it with the middle pedal + stop practicing a lot, sometimes I don’t even practice for an entire week. Even if I practiced, i will still, mess it up when I have to play it in front of my teacher. This has been going for at least 5-6 years. I hope this can be cured one day, I really need to build up my skills more.
I have told many students who came into our home about #3. Getting too anxious about "getting ready" for that one hard part and ignoring what you are playing is only going to make it worse. Taking things one measure at a time and, if you must, even just think "I don't need to worry about that part, I've done it during practice so I can do it when it comes." And if you still mess up, whatever, just move on and keep practicing. And #5!! Oh, #5!!!!! I can't tell you how much I need to practice performing before it's showtime for me. Play more for people and it will help when you play for more people when it really counts!
I find that it helps my nerves a lot to play in a packed auditorium... packed with empty seats, that is! ; - )
All kidding aside, thanks very much for your advice here, Josh. Another thing that helps (if the performer has the luxury to actually undertake it) is to greet members of the audience as they are filling the perfrmance room/concert hall and thank them for coming. This helped me a great deal in the somewhat informal atmosphere of a performance room in which I was just about to give a harpsichord recital.
Thanks again for all of your very helpful pianist's advice videos, Josh.
Great stuff, Josh. One of my main goals this summer is to learn to relax and enjoy myself on stage, so I'll definitely be putting these tips to the test.
When i grew up my parents were like judges to my playing. I never felt in pressure until i began to think of playing the Piano as serious stuff. When some guys or your parents see you have potential, sometimes you are challenged to music you never played before or heard. I played classical stuff and i am from Perú(our mostly popular music used Internationally is Criolla's music). Wich i only heard like 10 times in my whole life. My parents loved that music and wanted me to play. Of course i had a piano mentor(asked him but wasn't his speciality). I tried and tried by myself and made it happened. I am so proud now. That achievement broken a lot of nervous stuff but not all of it. We have weaknesses and mine was getting my fingers frozen at springs(this made my piano practising harder than everything i did by myself). I solved this by getting Centrum Vitamins. I am a happy piano player right now.
From personal experience a lot of this also applies to recording (even when alone).... as soon as that record button is pressed then you tighten up so much you rarely give your best performance.
So very helpful. This is info. That we store in the file cabinets of my mind. Pulling all of your tips forward all at the same time is so very helpful.
Thanks man I'm doing a performance over 1 month and I'm practicing like hell
Thank you so much for the wonderful tips here, you are indeed amazing. Just a small request whether you would continue producing more Pro practice lessons such as Chopin op 10 no 5 and maybe a particular video dealing with polyrhythm? I am looking forward to your videos. Thank you for reading my post.
what has always helped me when I sing in public is I practice a lot! When I am prepared, it makes me less nervous.
exactly perform to your text buddy, i love when someone say a obvious gem
Josh I am thoroughly excited that I found your channel. I appreciate this video greatly, for it regards one of my preeminent struggles.
Really good tips, Josh. I teach pedal steel guitar, both live and over Skype, and am working with one student in particular who has trouble consistently playing difficult licks he thought he'd mastered onstage with bands (I've often had the same trouble!). I think your ideas here can help him (andme), I appreciate your sharing these insights.
Thank you very much.
I just had my juries and I felt like I was having an out of body experience.
I will try some of the things you suggested.
Thanks for the tips, Josh. I have my first recital in 2 weeks and will use these to prepare.
Same here except its not my first
Have my grade 8 exam today. been freaking out all morning this is definitely helping thanks josh
Ashish Thomas same as i!
Excellent tips, Josh! Thanks
i can't stop watching these vids!
I have a small concert today in front of little kids. I'm playing Prelude and Moonlight sonata 1st movement on piano. I hope it goes well 😬💨
This is an exceptional video - I'm performing on my own for the first time really since school and this has helped a lot
Staying in the present moment is so key. Thanks for the tips, competition in 2 days!
Nice tips Josh! Thanks. I especially find 'listening to the music' while I play extremely helpful. As opposed to thinking 'what chord or fingering is next'.
watching this in 2022 with 4 days left till my performance, thank you so much!!!!
Well said...one of the best recital videos!
Thank you for your advices! I would like to ask, before all these technologies such as videos, camera and so on came. How did the pianists back in the days practice performing please? Yes you can invite your friends and so on, but it don’t believe that you can invite friends every single time you practice, yes? Thank you very much!
thank you for sharing the mental aspect of the playing and for all those tips!
wh hw Thank you for your support!
My teacher is making us take a playing test in band and there's 37 people in the class and my crush is in it too. I am really nervous but it's nice to know other people can relate.
Wow...this is GOOD SHIT...I been playing long time and he is right...overthinking, worrying about the future of ur pieces?? Will make ur brain Rember to respond consistently as a nervous player...training the BRAIN and subconcious mind is more important than ANYTHING U WILL EVER LEARN
pep72000 Thank you for watching :)
I have terrible anxiety, especially in exams. My heart pounds so hard! My teacher encouraged me to play in small concerts and I have played some duets, but not ready to do a solo. I still get nervous, but the last concert was a little better. Thanks for the tips.
I hope you are doing well ♥️💙
Thank you for this nice video. I've discovered your videos a few weeks ago and I've seen already a lot of great tips. Thanks a lot!!!
This is amazing advice, especially performing to 1 person over the web. What a star thankyou :)
I still shake and when I play by myself it’s perfect but when I play it in front of lots of people it fails miserably and then my teacher thinks I am bad at music😩
Thank you Josh..awesome TIPS !!!
Good strategies/ways round nerves being nervous on stage. Really helped me, I'm doing a show soon and this helped me. Cheers
Thanks for the advice Josh! This topic is extremely relevant to me as I'm preparing for important piano exams that are fast approaching. The main struggle I have is caring too much about what other people are thinking while I play and it makes me tense up incredibly which is such a hinderance to my performances. Any other tips would be greatly appreciated! :)
***** Thanks Paulina. I discuss a few other topics in my video called "Overcoming Performance Anxiety"
I have a piano recital tomorrow, thank you i feel a bit more better
Another great installement, Thank you!
An Amazing player. Inspiring
Thank you. This will help.
Im playing for our school competition soon.....😱
Thanks so much!
Tomorrow i've got a peformance . I'm playing claire de lune . But on the fast part, before I play it , i get so nervous about it, beacause i know i can't play it perfectly . Sometimes i forget it and don't think about it , but other times it's the only thing I think of .. i just can't controll it . Even though I try not to think about it .
Still thank you very much ! These tips sure helped!
how did it go?
"if you have one friend in this world, or family member" Damn Boom roasted
That's great advice. Thanks. I liked the idea of the practising performing, honestly, i had never thought about it lol!
Great video Josh! I really enjoy the tips and hope that they can help me with an upcoming performance! :)
***** I hope so...let me know how it goes!
Hey Josh what song were you playing in the very beginning of the video?
***** He was playing Chopin Ballade No.3 Op.47 in Ab Major :)
Thanks 😊
So helpful!! Thanks!!
These are really good tips, thank you!! :)
This was great, thank you so much!
eve11 Thank you for your kindness. Have a great week!
Super Sir
AUGUSTINE violinist from Malaysia
Great job, Josh!
Completely agree with number three. that can definitely make or break a performance :D
excellent Josh! very helpful.
Thanks!
Extremely Helpful! Many Thanks :)
Thanks a lot. I have to perform today and I hope today’s concert will be great 😂
(Will update this comment after the concert for myself)
The performance was great 😂
This is a huge issue for me and I know the first point is one of my main issue to performing well in public along with thinking ahead and over analyzing the piece as I play.
Really good advices!!!!!!!
Thanks JOSH!!!!!! Btw Your Elegie / Schindlers list is awesome from your cd.
man these were some damn good tips.thank you so much Josh! :)
class video, thanks josh!
Ollie Fletcher Thanks Ollie!
i got this relax state and detachhhhment, but fell thhat i need some perfectionis, idealism and stress, dont know...
Thank you Josh! Exactly what I needed right now. What is your opinion on beta blocker?