Scared - anything I can do?

[Oddball]

OK, so AS recital evening is tomorrow. I'm playing the 1st mvmt of Beethoven's Pathetique, and I'm really scared of it.

When I'm playing it I'm always thinking of things that are going to go wrong. Like missing the bottom note when the RH tune goes into the bass. That sort of thing. And how bad it's going to sound.

I can play it, it's just this mental block I have.

Apart from a bottle of scotch before I perform, is there anything I can do to make this a little less....argh....?

[stumac]

A lot of people say you should just concentrate on something that went really well in your life, and try to remember how you fealt abot that. I thnk it's just something to keep your mind off what you're worrying about.

Basically try not to think about it - I recon it helps to have a definate "end point" to your practise, play it through and then say to yourself "that's it, next time will be for real". Play other peices from then on - things you can play well!

I'm not the best qualified person to give advise mind you!

[possom]

This is what I try and do:-

Imagine yourself playing the piece in your head and getting everything right, that way you drill it into your subconscience. At the moment you're thinking negative thoughts which then becomes the self-fulfilling prophecy. If you start to imagine wrong notes then think about something else and go back to trying again later.

I also say "I can do anything through Christ which strengheneth me" three times beforehand and that seems to help (even though I don't go to Church!). When you're playing the piece tomorrow focus on the positive, don't panic if you hit a wrong note remember it's the overall musical communication that matters.

Good luck

[chocolatedog]

Eat a ******!!!!!!!!!

[possom]

chocolatedog said:

Eat a ******!!!!!!!!!

I forgot that one ;D

I had one before my exam today and it really does work!!!

[YetAnotherKlavierist]

Oddball, watch this:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkP6VsdOv4Y

Whatever your performance, it will not be that bad. I can guarantee that people sitting AS music will churn out performances like that though, scarily enough, but having heard you play other repertoire I know you don't have the capacity to be that bad . Go and give them place where satan lives.

[Oddball]

Thanks guys

That video is dreadful. I find this comment sums it up:

Your performance is pathetic. Kind of ironic, but just to let you know that "Pathetique" does not literally mean "pathetic", it actually has more complicated feelings associated with tragic sonorities etc.

[Steve Hopwood]

Good luck tomorrow.

AS performances put much higher emphasis on musicality than technical perfection. Play fluently and with excitement and your will get a brilliant mark, even if you hit fistfuls of wrong notes.

[chocolatedog]

oddball said:

Thanks guys

That video is dreadful. I find this comment sums it up:

Your performance is pathetic. Kind of ironic, but just to let you know that "Pathetique" does not literally mean "pathetic", it actually has more complicated feelings associated with tragic sonorities etc.

You should see some of "her" other so-called performances!!!! ;D or maybe