Steve Mumsford has really just said it best and hit the nail on the head(hmm good pun?). I will expand a bit more.....thanks Steve!!!!!!
Looking around you, determined to connect with others making music can and will help( it has always helped me control adrenaline). Get into the music as much as possible. "Losing yourself" as Steve says is very important. Don't get too lost, and lose track in rests. While serving as principal Horn of a large Latin American orchestra, I would imagine the performances we made was in the time of the composers The beauty of rehearsals with up and coming conductors, striving for unique interpretations, other conductors trying to achieve what the composer truly intended made for a non-issue of the nerves when the performances arrived. Not to mention the fact my job was on the line every rehearsal and performance, that will wake you up from just trying to play your part!!! Having this artistic perspective helped me create more inspired and original music. If you only care about "getting the notes" you will suffer, and suffer for your whole career.... you have to let it flow..... If anyone is into golf, Sergio Garcia is in a putting slump, he is mechanical and does not "let it flow" similar to music making, even more applicable to the physical horn playing. I am a very accomplished performer and I don't suffer from debilitating nerves (anymore). Nerves? No, now more like excitement to perform well and make music. The full adrenal rush, with all the original poster's debilitating symptoms is not good for musical performance. No matter what anyone says if you want to perform well, you must find a way to control these symptoms. Use more performance, more skill, more preparation, become the performance fanatic... do street performing if you have to. I practice outside in public places... it helps and it may sound better than a small dry room. I know it is not enough to hear someone say, prepare better, do yoga and meditation, but all these things can and well help you "at the moment" when you need it most. Good Luck!!! Matthew Scheffelman horn __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com _______________________________________________ post: horn@music.memphis.edu unsubscribe or set options at http://music2.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
