“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players,” William Shakespeare.
For musicians, there’s nothing more exciting than performing for a live audience. Seeing hundreds of people calling out their name, singing in tune with the sounds that encompass the auditorium, and the way music colors them with its hues.
There’s nothing more exciting than being able to communicate with their audience through one platform.
Music is a language that doesn’t need to be explained. It’s universally understood. It lights a fire in our hearts that cannot be burnt out. And through music, we’re able to understand one another, even if there aren’t any words verbalized.
Therefore, it’s important for musicians to be able to convey their message to their audience. For aspiring musicians, it’s an exciting experience, being able to perform for a large crowd for the first time. But for some, that excitement can turn into nervousness.
And while stage fright is difficult to deal with at first, it can be conquered, keeping a few tips in mind.
Empty Your Mind
Start by ‘emptying’ your mind. This means that stop thinking about all that could go wrong. When you hear yourself thinking about something negative, make a conscious effort to deflect it. Eventually, it will become a habit.
Try taking a deep breath and exhaling slowly. This will help you relax your muscles and alleviate stress. Occupy yourself with positive thoughts or practice not thinking at all. This may seem odd at first but not thinking can give you a few seconds of peace that you desperately need!
You can even drink some peppermint tea to soothe your nerves and help your vocal chords relax.
Do Light Exercises
Some light exercises can help you relax and take away the tension from your system. It will help you become calmer. Once you are relaxed and comfortable, it’ll be easier to focus on important things.
Don’t Focus on the Audience
Stage fright stems from, “What will people think?” and “There are so many people out there!”
Don’t think about the crowd, focus on your music. Make sure not to make eye contact. This will make it worse. Try looking at the ceiling or look at something on stage. This will divert your attention until you become comfortable enough. Remember that the world’s greatest musicians have also messed up on stage by forgetting lyrics. Adele suffers from anxiety and severe stage fright.
It’s important to remind yourself that nobody will judge you for making mistakes. Everything is an opportunity to learn.
Use Music Notation Software
Using music notation software can help you prepare in advance. You will be able to figure out which areas you need to work on, and how you sound. You can blend the vocals with the music by simply dragging and dropping the instruments into the timeline.
You can even use it to practice your craft. Remember that practice makes perfect.
Music Jotter is a sheet music editor and composition software, which helps aspiring musicians create music in a simple, hassle-free manner! Check out our demo or purchase the full version. Visit our website for more details!