by Gerry Baird

Created on: January 15, 2009

Your heart is pounding, your thoughts are racing, adrenaline is flowing. Your palms are sweaty, your muscles tense, your breathing shallow. No, it's not a first date. It's a music performance, and all you can think about are the dozens, or hundreds, or thousands of eyes directly on you. Now you are stumbling, missing a note here and there, trying to keep an even tempo and thinking only of the conclusion of your performance when you'll be able to run from the stage and this nightmare. You've played this piece hundreds of times before, often flawlessly, in the comfort of your own home. Yet suddenly, just when you need to play your best-when people are watching, expecting, listening-you choke.

Stage fright, also known as performance anxiety, is something musicians, actors and actresses, athletes and public speakers all must face. When I began playing the piano as an adult, I had dreams of concert halls and television gigs, albums and record deals. I worked hard to develop my skills, but could barely get through a song for my piano teacher, much less a large audience. Even playing for my own family was a challenge, especially when they were trying to sing along.

Over the past several years, I've worked hard to improve my performances and conquer fear. Above my piano at home, I have a sign that says "Feel the fear and do it anyway." For me, it's a reminder that performance anxiety is a reality of life but can be overcome. Here are a few tips I've learned along the way:

1. Know your material
When you are preparing to perform, learn your material inside and out. Site reading is a great skill, but it is usually not something you want to rely on when performing. If possible, memorize your piece so that instead of focusing on notes you can focus on other aspects of making great music. When memorization is too difficult, or time does not allow for such preparation, bring sheet music-but don't use it as a crutch. It is common for nervous performers to lose their place. If you know the material well, you should be able to find your place again without anyone knowing the difference.

When you are practicing, you will develop muscle memory so that even if your attention strays or your anxiety takes over during a performance, your hands will know what to do. Begin learning a new piece by playing it slowly. Each time you make a mistake, repeat that passage of music correctly several times so that your hands learn what they should do. Then gradually speed up the tempo, still repeating

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