Feeling confident as a musican

Comment

Comment by Pablo Hernandez-Pagan on October 7, 2009 at 10:41am

Hi Jarred,

I've been playing the cello for fifteen years now. When it comes to confidence, NEVER think you are not good at your instrument. It's always good to have some "amount" of selfpride when you are a musician. On the other end, don't think too much about how good you are. We the musicians need to focus on our performance and technique, not on what others say or not say about how good you are. Other thing, NEVER let anybody interfere with your personal life and practice schedule by asking you to play here or there, just because they love to see you playing the violin. You MUST control your time and people's desire of "enjoying" your performance. Spend more time practising and taking classes and less time playing in too many events, that will drain musical brain and emotions. When it comes to auditions, I can suggest you to think of them like when you talk about something you love to somebody. You never get nervous when you talk about something you love, right? It's the same thing in music, you'll be "talking" to others about something you love...MUSIC! I hope my words helps you a little bit.

Best wishes,
Pablo

Comment by Git bizy on October 6, 2009 at 11:27am

This is your Uncle Hugh, the oher music guy in the family. I just wanted you to know that some very famous people was scared too death while on stage. Some, like Ella Fitzgerald and Betty Carter, would get so nervous that they would forget the lyrics to a song and scat instead of sing. They were so good, or nervous, that they were elected several times as best jazz instrumentalist several times by downbeat magazine. There are a lot of others but the point here is let your nerves make you express yourself by reaching higher and digging deeper. In fact Buddy Guy (a famous blues guitarist ask your grandpa) used to drink like mad until he allowed what he was feeling to come through his music. I am proud of you and by the way, your nervousness desn't come through when you play

Comment by Cathy Thompson on September 25, 2009 at 10:28pm

Jerrod, auditions - for anyone - are not fun! They're meant to be nerve-wrecking to keep us on our toes and to keep our egos in check. My advice is that when you're in front of the audition panel (ie: judges), try to block them out of your mind. They're right in front of you, so it's almost impossible not to see them, but pretend they're just mannequins! Instead of wondering what they're thinking as you play, think about the sound you are producing. Envision all the notes dancing in the air around you, spreading out from the violin f-holes outwards like sunrays. This way, regardless of how you think you played or what you think they're thinking about you, you'll get some satisfaction knowing that you had fun making the notes dance. Also, referring to dancing, make sure you move a little while playing. Just a bit of body movement will not only help loosen you up but help you look relaxed.

Comment by Cassidy Goldblatt on September 24, 2009 at 5:11pm

you know, you look familiar by the way.... have you been to MYSO?

Comment by Cassidy Goldblatt on September 24, 2009 at 5:06pm

Well, the fact is that you probably really are good. But if you happen to be a perfectionist, that can be really hard to believe. Or if you happen to have a low self-esteem that can be a problem too. If that's the case, just remember that you're a person, and that all people are valuable. Don't worry so much about how people think of your playing; just play. Enjoy the music, enjoy your violin, have fun with it. What happens in an audition happens, and most likely even if you don't make it into certain places you'll still have done a great job. And you can be proud of it, because you've done your best.
Now if you're a perfectionist, like me, you have to remember that not everyone hears it like you do ;) To us it's hard to appreciate anything that you do because you want it to be perfect, but that fact of the matter is that we humans aren't perfect. Just do your best and be content with it.
As for auditions.... well, I know that afterwards it's really really hard to be confident about how your playing was. But it helps, when you go in there, to stop before you play and think about everything you've learned in the piece. Create a "roadmap" in your head if you will. And when you start playing, rather than letting nerves take you, continue looking a few measures ahead and remember every detail that you've learned in your lessons. It's hard to do but when you do it, there's no room left for nerves. Otherwise you just let yourself react, and end up making a lot of mistakes. Afterwards you can also actually remember what happened in there. Oh, also instead of freaking out over a shift or something that you think you can't make, just make yourself believe that you will be able to do it. You'll do it. It's hard but really it works. And after an audition, if you check off everything in your mind that you were supposed to do, and you did it, then that should be enough. And if it's not, then it's the judges' faults for not taking you lol. Don't let it get to you, because there are always some battles to win and some to lose.
Hopefully that will help with your auditions, but for confidence just remember that you're special. Each person is unique and has something to give, and for you that probably is music. Who knows how many people could be affected by your playing? Good luck with everything!!

Comment by eddymontreal on August 2, 2009 at 3:05pm

I believe self-confidence is big for performers. I also think you need to like to play for others, to show what you can do, to have a solid technique and to have the interest in some visibility (musically of course). If I judge from your profile picture, I would say you're probably a person who likes to be in the shadow . I think it is totally OK not to have a face picture (or a picture at all), I'm just using this as an example. Those people who say that you're a "good violinist" are your first public and they may not say it only because they want to be nice to you. Consider this as an honest comment from them and a very positive one. You can also have an honest chat with your teachers and ask them how they feel about your play, how they overcome the lack of confidence and how they get a good reflection on themselves as musicians.

With a good audition preparation and a bit of self-confidence, you will do well! Keep in mind, saying "that's not true" when you are complemented on your play can become a roadblock in your progress as a musician. All the best luck!

Comment by Julia Johnson on July 30, 2009 at 7:21pm

I guess we have a similar situation. I will be a Freshman in college this fall, and I have chosen to do violin performance at Drake University. (I've been playing for 11 years!) My problem is that I lack the confidence it may take to succeed in that major. Sometimes I think to myself, "Well, I'll never be the best, so what's the point in trying?" That's such a stupid thought though. I play violin because I love it. Don't you? I guess we also play because we're good at it, and everybody enjoys being good at what they do.
I play for my church too, and they always ask me to come back. When people compliment you, you should try your hardest to thank them. My dad told me once that by saying things like "not really", or "that's not true", you're telling them that they don't know what they're talking about. I guess I can undrestand that. I mean, if somebody enjoyed your performance, you obviously did well enough to make them happy. If you say you did badly, then you're telling them that they don't know anything about music and that their opinion was wrong. You know? Since my dad told me that, I tried to change my answer...haha.
Here's what I do to gain confidence:
In order to become confident, you need to fake that you're confident until it happens. Especially during college auditions, try to appear as confident as you can. You can make this happen by using lots of bow and intense vibrato when necessary, and even moving along with the music!
Recently, I played in a Chamber Music Recital ( here in Bay View, Michigan...the month long music camp I'm currently attending) where my trio performed a Beethoven piece. Because I was the only violinist, I had to seem very confident so the other trio members could follow me without question. Afterward, the audience members complimented me on how wonderful it sounded, and looked! I must have faked being confident tremendously because I was actually shaking a lot...haha
Good luck with your confidence and college auditions. Where are you planning on auditioning?