nervous

[Fini]

ok, i have a solo later, and i can play it and everything, im confident, but i get really nervous once i see the audience and then the notes leading up to the solo..my heart starts pounding so fast and i feel like im gunna miss the keys. does neone have any advice on how to be less neevous while performing? thanks

[Martin Williams]

My number one piece of advice is simple, just dont look at the audience! That, and just try your best to relax, there is nothing to worry about. Good Luck on your solo. If you want, go ahead and pretend the rest of your section is playing with you, that should help. Good Luck!!!

Martin Williams

[vermontsax]

I'm with Martin. I often solo with my eyes closed but for a different reason (I can see the notes and feel the music better ... but that's a bit off topic ... :wink: ). If this is possible, do it. I'm fortunate in that I'm usually improvising so the music is in my head, not in front of me.

Let the music fill you and guide you. Don't worry about impressing an audience. Concentrate instead on bringing out the sound, feeling, and expression of the piece you are playing. Music is a medium for expressing emotion. Most composers write music to bring out certain emotions in those who listen to it. Saxophone is an extremely expressive instrument that can be gentle, abraisive, monotonous, soft, loud, bouncy, angry ... the list goes on. Find the voice and expression your musical piece is asking for and make it live. Do this and your audience will be impressed.

The best news is that with experience, your nervousness will eventually decline. I used to swim competitively and at first had that same nervous feeling (hey, I was more or less exposed in front of a group of people!). By concentrating on the music, you'll eventually forget they're there. Eventually, you may even like them being there.

I hope this helps!

- Mike

[Gandalfe]

Have you played your solo for your Mom, brother, uncle, and maybe the postman. Practice the solo in front of people you know so that you can get a little more used to playing in front on people.

Also, practice beyond just being able to play it. VermontSax talks about memorizing the solo. That means you don't just know the solo, you really KNOW THE SOLO.

Finally, and then I'll shut up, most people are scared when they play solos. We don't do it that often. But the alternative is to not play solos and to me, that is worse that playing one while scared.

Enjoy your 15 minutes of fame!

[Troy]

I agree with all the above. A ton of practice will help. Not looking at the audience will help. Playing for whoever you can beforehand will help. Here's a couple other things to try.

As you feel yourself tensing up, take a couple deep breaths. Breathe in and out deeply. Kinda blow out the air all at once.

Shake out your arms and hands. It might look silly, but it helps me relax. You can do this without flailing. :) Shrug your shoulders.

But mostly, just play as much as you can. It will get easier every time.

[rollen]

I concur with the above.

Remember, nobody in the audience knows what notes you are supposed to be playing. You also have to believe that the audience is there supporting you. They want you to succeed. Once you do it once, it just gets easier and easier.

Focus on your music and not on the audience for your first solo.