NERVES!

[Choralbass4']

ok.. So lets ask the experts... how does one deal with nerves before a performance? I know solid practise beforehand is obvious.. but I find no matter howwell my last practise ends up, my fingers always tend to freeze up on me about 5 secs before I start playing...</P>


I'm playing my very first Dupre piece tomorrow 'Placare Christe Servulis' and I'm real excited about it.. I have done real good practising with it and I can really play it up to speed without any mistakes (well maybe with a small slip in the final triplet flourish, but I'm ok with that) so I'm hoping my fingers dont freeze up and I mess up the opening bars...</P>


I wish I found out about this site earlier....[:-(]</P>


DEEP BREATHING AND RELAX ?? Any advice would be great... </P>

[Menschenstimme]

Re: NERVES!



I think that we all experience some degree of nerves. Different things might work for different people. For some, abstaining from caffeine that day might be enough. For others, a small glass of wine might be the best solution. Some might even require an over-the-counter or prescription medication that causes a slight tranqilizing effect, either intentionally or as a side-effect.</P>


The only thing that really works for me is to play the piece repeatedly and to play (anything) frequently in front of people.</P>


Good luck!</P>

[tumult_in_the_praetorium]

Re: NERVES!

[quote user="Choralbass4'"]


I'm playing my very first Dupre piece tomorrow 'Placare Christe Servulis' and I'm real excited about it.. I have done real good practising with it and I can really play it up to speed without any mistakes (well maybe with a small slip in the final triplet flourish, but I'm ok with that) so I'm hoping my fingers dont freeze up and I mess up the opening bars...</P>[/quote]

Hope it goes well. This piece is by no means easy to pull off - so good on you for doing so. It also serves as an excellent introduction to Dupre's more challenging works. That final run is a little tricky, I must admit! Perhaps I'll dig it out for next week.

I'm in rather the same position as yourself - I'm going to play the Dubois Toccata tomorrow morning for the first time in a long while, and I'm somewhat nervous about whether it will be up to scratch or not. Another long-forgotten piece is getting an airing tomorrow as the prelude - the Benediction Nuptiale by Saint-Saens. Absolutely ravishing piece.

The best of luck!

[soundboarddude]

Re: NERVES!

[quote user="MenchenStimme"]


... play (anything) frequently in front of people.[/quote]</p>

I agree entirely. Practice *does* make perfect.</p>

Also, there are a few ways to think about the audience. You can think of them as not being there, but that doesn't really work when you walk out on stage (or when someone makes a noise while you're playing; you can't really blame a sneeze on the organ!). Thus, I think of the audience as a group of people that just want to enjoy your talent. They aren't going to throw tomatoes at you if you make a mistake, and they aren't going to be upset or angry. In fact, the feat of playing the organ is something that few of them can do anyways. Most of them will just be impressed that you know how to turn the beast on!</p>

When you get out on stage, don't feel rushed. If the bench isn't at the right height, take the time to fix it. Taking 20 seconds to move the bench is better than sitting awkwardly on the bench and even missing notes, perhaps. Once you're ready to play and on the bench, just take another second. Take a deep breath, and remind yourself that in reality, there's really nothing to be nervous about.</p>

I only start when I'm good and ready! Plus, the audience loves the suspense.</p>

[H]</p>

[soubasse32]

Re: NERVES!



[quote user="soundboarddude"]</P>
<UL>
<LI>When you get out on stage, don't feel rushed. </LI>
<LI>I only start until I'm good and ready![/quote]Two bits of sage advice! To which I will add: eat a banana before you play.[:)]I also drink a Red Bull -I don't know if you have this in Sri Lanka? It contains a bit of caffeine, whichhelps me be alert; it also has a vitamin B complex, which relaxes me.</LI>[/list]

[Havoc]

Re: NERVES!

I used to take a beta-blocker before such things (also before exams). This was on prescription. I must admit I now think the effect was more pshychological and probably some placebo would have worked just as fine.

[cosmicpanda]

Re: NERVES!



A little habit I've had before performances in the past is to go for a little walk beforehand, which can help to get the blood flowing a little. It also allows you to go through the pieces in your head while being sufficiently distracting so as to not get nervous - well, me anyway. </p>

I have fond memories of a particular theatre in Auckland that is beside a lake and has lots of swans. My walk there was made all the more memorable by the astonishingly large amount of poo on the footpath from the swans. [:)]</p>

[jbird604]

Re: NERVES!



Repeating good advice from above -- take your time getting situated on the bench. Don't feel rushed. Think through the first measure or two before you play a note. Breath in and breath out -- and keep doing that!</P>


You do want to be relaxed when you begin, so a short walk, a bit of deep breathing, some stretching, or whatever you can do to flex your muscles will make you feel less tense and more confident. Have a Coke (or Red Bull or whatever you enjoy).</P>


Realize that the audience is going to enjoy and appreciate what you do, whether it totally pleases you or not!Your goal is not absolute perfection, but to enjoy the experience and refresh the spirits of your listeners. You are not on trial, and a minor flub is not the end of your career or your life!</P>


How did it go?</P>


John</P>
<P mce_keep="true"></P>

[Choralbass4']

Re: NERVES!



HELLO EVERYBODY!! Thank you ALL forthe sound advice!! I really appreciate it guys.. I'm sure a lot of others will learn from these as well..I'm definitely going to use some of these techniques.. Because I've got a Christmas Concert coming up next month for which I will definitely have to use these techniques... </P>


The Dupre went off about 85% ok, if not for the SILLY SILLY SILLY DUMB slip on the second page... [8o|] I hit the wrong pedal note in the second entry of the pedaland that put me off for a good 2 bars UUURRRGGHH !!! Anyway thank goodness I managed to turn it back in.. Also I felt that I started a bit too fast due to 'NERVES' (surprise surprise) I think.. So might slow it down for next time.... Does everyone here (or, whoever plays it) take it at the recommended speed whichisa dotted minium = 76 ?? </P>


I'm playing it again at a Service of Remembrance this Saturday so I guess it will be perfect then (now, when I say perfect, i mean it will be for me! ).. I hope someone will record it for me so I can put it up hereso thatyou guys to tell me how NOT so perfect I really am... Which is what I want btw...</P>


Tumult, I hope your Dubois went off well... I haven't played it inover ayear now and I'm getting it out for the Christmas season.. What excercise do you use to get your semiquavers equal ?? I'm doing some of the HANON pianoexercises which I hope will help.. I haven't heard the Saint-Saen's Benediction.... is it nice? I will search for it online now..</P>


Soubasse32' - yes, we do get Red bull here.. And running water, and believe it or not ELECTRICITY as well.. now howbizaare is that eh? [:D] aww, bless you.. I'm only teasing... I will try the Banana trick, another organist friend of mine in Australia also recommended the same,.. Something to do with thehigh levels of B Vitaminsin them that helps calm the nerves.. We organists learn EVERYTHING don't we.. lol.. </P>


I will post a new topic with my Christmas Organ RecitalProgramme and you all can let me know if its a goodbalanced programmeor not... Any suggestions will also be much appreciated as always! </P>


x</P>

[soundboarddude]

Re: NERVES!



[quote user="Choralbass4'"]...The Dupre went off about 85% ok, if not for the SILLY SILLY SILLY DUMB slip on the second page... [8o|] I hit the wrong pedal note in the second entry of the pedaland that put me off for a good 2 bars UUURRRGGHH !!! ...[/quote]</p>

Psh - it's Dupre. Unless you were playing in front of other organists (or blatantly stopped playing for a moment), I doubt anyone noticed anyways! Now if you had been playing Bach - those mistakes are a little harder to hide!
</p>

[quote user="Choralbass4'"]... I hope someone will record it for me so I can put it up hereso thatyou guys to tell me how NOT so perfect I really am... Which is what I want btw... ...[/quote]</p>

The forums are encouragement. Making positive suggestions or comments to your playing is one thing, but reminding you of your imperfections is another! I don't need anyone reminding me of how bad I am!</p>

I am glad to know that your performance went well though. If it's any consolation, no performance is ever going to be perfect! What counts is that you're able to keep going!</p>

[Y][H]
</p>

[Choralbass4']

Re: NERVES!



Thanks SBD, I feel a whole lot better now.. You're right about Dupre..the harmonious butdiscordant structure of his music is amazing don't you think? and it makes it just a little bit easier for us to get away with a mistake</P>


Actually I should have rephrased that IMPERFECT statment a bit.. What I meant to say was that I'm looking for tips and advice on hereon how to improve my playing not that Iam looking for fellow organists to go "HAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHA what an Idiot".. we have youtube for that.. [:D]</P>


I agree, not stopping is just the key...I'm very proud of myself for coming this far. I think, for me, learning Dupre is certainly a milestone in my music career. Things can only get better from here I believe...... I would really like to have a go at his P+F in B Major... has anybody got a PDF I could burrow ? I will pay of Course.. </P>


So what are you working on at the moment? </P>

[tumult_in_the_praetorium]

Re: NERVES!

[quote user="Choralbass4'"]


Tumult, I hope your Dubois went off well... I haven't played it inover ayear now and I'm getting it out for the Christmas season.. What excercise do you use to get your semiquavers equal ?? I'm doing some of the HANON pianoexercises which I hope will help.. I haven't heard the Saint-Saen's Benediction.... is it nice? I will search for it online now..</P>[/quote]

I chickened out of playing the Dubois halfway through - I'd decided I just hadn't practiced it enough to play it yet - and played the Widor instead.

You can get the score to the Benediction Nuptiale online at http://imslp.org

I've sent you a private message about the Dupre.

Tim

[soubasse32]

Re: NERVES!



[quote user="tumult_in_the_praetorium"]I chickened out of playing the Dubois halfway through - I'd decided I just hadn't practiced it enough to play it yet - and played the Widor instead.[/quote]Halfwaythrough?! [:O]</P>


Oh, I think I know what you mean - there are several 'stopping places' in that piece.</P>


Unless you did a segue directly into the Widor Toccata? [:O] [:D]</P>


If so you may have invented thefirsttoccata medley! [6]</P>

[Choralbass4']

Re: NERVES!



[:D] Its a good thing you refrained from playing it.. Now you can play during December like me.. [;)] I'm scheduled to play it the Sunday before Christmas.. Maybe we can both play it on the same day and compare notes afterwards ... [8-|] (or before)...</P>


How fast do you take it? I cant manage the required tempo of crotchet = 112 ... thats like lightening speed.. [:(]</P>

[Guest]

Re: NERVES!

[quote user="Choralbass4'"]


The Dupre went off about 85% ok, if not for the SILLY SILLY SILLY DUMB slip on the second page... [8o|] I hit the wrong pedal note in the second entry of the pedaland that put me off for a good 2 bars UUURRRGGHH !!! </p>

[/quote]</p>

</p>

Sounds to me like it was a lot more than 85% okay. Don't beat yourself up about small slips!
</p>