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Question: Terrified of Christmas piano recital !.!.!. What should I do!?
I'm 36 and have been a piano student since August of last year!. I am on Level 2 books, but she has me do Level 3 to Level 5 songs on top of my lesson plans!. Anyway, she wants me to do a Christmas recital in front of an entire retirement home (in front of about 200 people)!. I don't feel like I'm ready for a recital just yet!. I don't feel comfortable even playing around my own parents!. Should I just be assertive and tell her I don't feel like I'm ready yet!? (I freeze up when I practice the songs she wants me to do for recital!.)Www@QuestionHome@Com
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
No, you may not back out!. Performing is part of the learning process!. Besides, your audience is a group of people that desperately want anyone to come and visit them, and if you can half way knock out a tune for them, think of how happy they will be just to hear some music for a change!.
You should do this for them!. After you are finished you will realize just how much you did for yourself also!. It will be a beautiful experience!. Best of luck, I'm sure you'll do great!Www@QuestionHome@Com
It can be really hard to be comfortable performing- I've been performing in piano recitals since I was 3, and now I have been performing and working as a musician for 6 or 7 years and I still get nervous! The best thing that has helped me, is to focus on the music, and playing it for ME!. That is the best way for me to 1) get over my fear and 2) have the audience enjoy what's going on as much as I am- they can tell when you are enjoying playing or not!. So when you get on stage, pretend the audience isn't there, sit down, and think about what you are playing and WHY YOU like to play it, and have as much fun playing it for yourself as you can!. Don't worry about note mistakes- it's much more important to enjoy yourself! Performing is an entirely rewarding experience- it feels good and it's fun to perform if you can ignore the nervous thoughts and play from your gut!Www@QuestionHome@Com