![\"woman](\"https:\/\/www.londonpianoinstitute.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/woman-reading-music-on-the-piano.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n1. Memory and Memory Slips<\/h2>\n
Perhaps the most common anxiety: fear of forgetting what is coming next.
\nIt is not easy to memorise pieces that are long and have various complexities (our brains are different so it\u2019s very important to know, that what we struggle with is 100% happening to many other people too). I like to analyse the piece, specifically, what is happening structurally, harmonically, and then memorising the key points of where music \u201cturns\u201d. It is essential to know the style and harmonic motion of the piece. Strengthening my memory usually happens in several attempts, I run through to my friends, to my mentor, and not all of those run throughs are successful. I always have memory slips in different places, in every single one of those runs, so I make sure I do at least a few until all of the weak links are strengthened. It is incredibly different to play through to someone else as oppose to oneself only… try it! <\/p>\n
2. Meaning<\/h2>\n
Playing on \u201cauto-pilot\u201d mode at home and expecting a meaningful performance in front of an audience is pure insanity, sorry to say it. I learned that as a child, when I spent hours repeating things and then would go on stage and realise \u201coh! I have no clue what I am doing\u201d. Our subconsciousness will get us through many situations but in order to have an aware performance, practice must be full of intention and even more important – meaning. Giving every bar, note, or chord, a meaning based on music knowledge – is the key aspect in looking forward to a healthy performance. It is not easy to stay sharp while practising in pajama and checking messages every 5 minutes but having an aim and sharpness that we will have on stage is something we can also practice, or at least imitate.<\/p>\n
Letting go on stage is a big source of performing anxiety. How to attempt to fully let go but not let go of what you are doing properly… it is a very fine balance and I am not going to pretend I know the answers.<\/p>\n One of the biggest violinists of all time David Oistrakh said: \u201cIf I perform less than 3 recitals a week, I consider myself out of concert shape\u201d. This is of course a privilege that only established artists have but it does say that continuity in performing is the key. Building experience is of course a long process but the only way to do something well is to keep doing it and learn from the nuances of what went really well and what could be better.<\/p>\n For those of us who grew up performing, sometimes it\u2019s tricky not to attach our self-worth to our performance. The sense of \u201csucceeding\u201d in a particularly tricky or a big performance is often related to feeling like you yourself succeeded as a person. The truth is, it is our job to perform , and also our hobby and our love, the sense of accomplishment is natural. Keeping an eye on \u201cif I don\u2019t play well I am a failure\u201d is very important. For my LPI students it might be different, most of them grew up doing something else and approached music purely from a place of pleasure and joy, which is a fantastic start and most of the time keeps things strongly in perspective. <\/p>\n Performing industry is harsh and very frequently not based on quality. Having a strong system of support is simply essential. For instance, a teacher that has your best interests in their heart, guiding you and sharing all their knowledge. Mentors who will advice you on how to decide your next steps. Family members and friends encouraging your artistic path and unconditionally being there. It makes things easier knowing you are not just a performer and it\u2019s not prosaic entertainment for strangers, it is an essential part of our culture and what makes our society civilised. It nurtures soul and being reminded that we are all taking part in this, has to come externally, at times. <\/p>\n It simply won\u2019t be great every time. Just like anything else. Learning from my own mistakes and mistakes of others, was the most important thing in carving out the path of security in my mindset. Share, exchange! (Talk to your friends, colleagues, everyone finds different things challenging – exchanging ideas is a beautiful way of staying connected to how complex performing actually is!)<\/p>\n![\"hands](\"https:\/\/www.londonpianoinstitute.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/hands-playing-on-the-piano.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n3. Letting Go<\/h2>\n
4. Experience <\/h2>\n
5. Separating Self <\/h2>\n
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<\/a><\/p>\n6. Strong Support System <\/h2>\n
7. Embracing Failure <\/h2>\n
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