Top 10 Tips to Overcome Stage Fear Before Your Piano Recital

 

Feeling nervous before an upcoming piano recital? Not sure whether you are simply nervous or suffering from bouts of anxiety? In all of my years of selling pianos, I’ve familiarized myself with clients who have had similar feelings with their upcoming piano recitals or solos. Anytime you are preparing for a piano recital and want to deflect nervous energy as much as possible, there are a few tips and tricks to consider implementing in your daily routine leading up to the recital itself.

 

Incorporate Mediation Regularly

 

One of the biggest tips to help overcome stage fear before a piano recital in my opinion is incorporating meditation regularly in everyday life. Meditation is not only useful to calm down and relieve stress, but also helps to improve focus and concentration abilities. Meditating is a way to calm both the body and mind to successfully recharge when you practice piano or play in a recital.

 

Practice Breathing Exercises

 

Another suitable technique for most people who face stage fright before a piano recital includes breathing exercises. Slowly inhaling and exhaling while keeping count can help to counteract a potential anxiety attack while giving you the ability to regain focus and clarity. Breathing exercises keep you from feeling as if you are losing all control whether you are practicing a piece or preparing for your recital.

 

Remove Muscle Tension in the Body Manually

 

Take a moment to think of each area of your body individually, allowing them to relax manually. Work your way through the body to relieve muscle tension that can increase stress and stage fear prior to a recital. This is best when practiced lying down, to truly allow all muscles in the body to relax and calm down.

 

Play in Front of Others Prior to Your Piano Recital

 

Ask family members or friends to listen to you play your piece before your piano recital. The more comfortable you become playing in a group setting with those you know, the easier it is to adjust to playing on stage in front of others. Eliminating playing anxiety is possible, even if taking smaller steps is necessary to rid it from your life altogether.

 

Record Yourself Practicing

 

Recording yourself playing before a piano recital may help those who have trouble visualizing themselves on stage or anyone who is interested in improving certain areas of a piece. Recording yourself is a way to guage your strong areas as well to boost your confidence in time for your piano recital.

 

Consider the Mechanics of the Song You Are Playing

 

Think of notes by section in each piece you are playing in a piano recital. Memorize specific chords, chorus melodies, and whole notes along with the tempo of each individual song. Keeping the mechanics of a song in mind by memory is useful to avoid feeling stuck or overcome by anxiety while you are in the middle of playing a song in front of a crowd. Using associations to link the mechanics of the song along with the tempo and beat can help to move smoothly and quickly through a song played by memory, even if you are nervous. Focus on the memorization rather than the audience to keep from becoming overwhelmed.

 

Conceptualize the Piece You Plan to Play

 

Consider the piece in a step-by-step format to conceptualize it while memorizing the song. Breaking the song into pieces and visualizing memories, word associations, or beats can help to memorize any piece you need to play on stage in an upcoming recital.

 

Incorporate Performance Planning Into Your Practice

 

When practicing, imagine yourself playing on stage and hitting the proper notes throughout any songs you plan to play. Memorizing chords and segments of pieces you are playing can keep you on track once you are on stage during the live performance. Imagine how you plan to walk on stage until the moment you begin playing to avoid freezing up when it is your time to enter the stage during the recital.

 

Exercise

 

Getting adequate exercise regularly is also highly advisable for anyone who struggles to overcome stage fright due to fear and anxiety. Exercise increases the release of natural dopamine while providing your body with chemicals prepared to fight anxiety and stress. Even taking brisk walks in between practices and before a recital can help to calm nerves and keep you focused.

 

Visualize Yourself Playing

 

Visualizing yourself playing successfully in front of a group of people can calm your nerves and boost confidence. Visualization helps to overcome negative thoughts that contribute to anxiety and stage fear.

 

Incorporating the right methods to alleviate stress and anxiety before a piano recital is a way to move forward with your playing so you are able to enjoy it more. Taking the time to listen to your body and nervousness is essential to ensure you are able to play your best without allowing your own thoughts to consume you before you even begin!