5 More Ways to Reduce Anxiety Before a Cello Performance…
In my last article about ways to reduce anxiety before a cello performance, I made 5 suggestions:
1) Only perform pieces you know really well,
2) Prepare your sheet music
3) Arrive early at the venue to check the sound
4) Run through hard parts at half speed
5) Visualize success in advance
There are many more ways you can help your nerves than these. Here are some follow-up suggestions….
Record A Video Performance and Listen to it with Critical Ears.
Recording yourself playing and listening back with critical ears is one of the most powerful things you can do for yourself as a musician. When you are busy playing, you aren’t always focused on how you sound. You may be distracted by physical or mental concerns.
As you learn a piece, record parts of it and listen back. You can do this alone or with your teacher for more insights. When you are ready, record the whole piece wearing the clothes you are going to wear for your live performance.
You may need to record the piece multiple times until you are satisfied with the sound.
Then, listen back and take notes. What can you improve on? Work on these improvements before your performance
Wear Comfortable Performance Clothing
In my third year of university, I decided to go daring with my outfit and wear a skimpy dress with a slit down the side and high heels for my end-of-year recital. What I neglected to account for was how I would feel performing technically challenging music in this outfit. The moment I stepped on stage I knew I had made a mistake. I felt self-conscious and uncomfortable and that translated into a self-conscious and uncomfortable performance. I did not perform well and I was left with a lingering feeling of embarrassment.
Choose clothes that you feel comfortable and confident in. If you don’t normally wear heels to play, then don’t wear them for a performance. Don’t force yourself into a tight dress or a stiff shirt just to look good. Your audience is there to hear you not see you.
Develop a Daily “Musical Meditation” Practice.
The power of meditation to calm nerves is well researched but do you know how to incorporate the power of meditation into your cello practice?
One way you can do this is by mastering rhythmic breathing and applying it to your cello practice with longbow meditations. Another way is to learn how to properly breathe at the end of phrases to create power and expression in your playing. A third way is to visualize success while listening to your favorite meditative cello music.
Perform Your Own Music
Many cellists spend a lot of time learning to play music written by other people, but you can develop the tools you need to write or improves your own pieces. Performing your own music can create a sense of confidence and pride that can overide any anxiety you feel. Of course, this may seem like a daunting task if you have never composed or improvised before but it's not as hard as you think. The basic units of composition and improvisation are available to all cellists. You just need a place to start. Begin by experimenting with making sound effects over soundscapes or taking a simple set of notes and arranging them in a creative way.
Keep a Practice/Performance Journal
After you practice, take a few minutes to write down what went well about your practice and what you want to improve on in the future. Do the same thing after each performance. This will help you track your progress and create awareness about where you are headed next in your cello journey. In turn, you will feel a greater sense of control and less anxiety in general.
If you’d like more professional guidance on developing musical meditations, writing your own music, and tools to help track your progress and become more aware when you practice, then check out my CelloYoga™️ program. This program will take you on a deep dive into the world of mindful cello practice to help you achieve more focus, flexibility, and freedom in your playing. You can find more information about this innovative course here: www.cellogo.com
