Some nerve!

[Pepperdean]

Hi guys. Was discussing the season with a couple of bandsmen the other day and we touched on being nervous, and how we handle our nerves, either competing or just performing say in a parade or such like. We all described various knock-kneed triggers that set us off, or don't as the case may be - with no real solutions to the problems. We all agreed it affected our performances, and wouldn't it be great not to be nervous. So, how do you guys suppress the nerves? Or don't you get nervous? :)

Pepperdean :)

[pmotw]

One person in my band when we are tuning up, just before the stewerd shows always has to stop and throw up !!!!! :D


:cool: you know who you are !!!!!!!

[Patrick Piper]

Originally posted by Pepperdean:
Was discussing the season with a couple of bandsmen the other day and we touched on being nervous, and how we handle our nerves, either competing or just performing say in a parade or such like...So, how do you guys suppress the nerves? Or don't you get nervous? :)

Pepperdean :)

Compete in solos a couple of times and then parades and band competitions seem much less nerve wracking.

Pat

[ShadowPiper]

Originally posted by Pepperdean:
We all agreed it affected our performances, and wouldn't it be great not to be nervous. So, how do you guys suppress the nerves? Or don't you get nervous? :)

Pepperdean :)

You bet your arse being nervous affects a performance....but I always try and make the nervousness a "positive" affect. I always work on the tunes to be played for a performance to the point of having them "memorized in the fingers". Thus I can be aware of other factors around me as I perform. I might also suggest that a little nervousness is good... it makes you more aware and keeps a performer from being lulled into a sense of complacency or drifitng off during a performance. It helps me to keep an eye out for the Pipe Majors directions in a parade. In a solo setting it helps me to "audibleize" when piping the honored couple through tables of guests and my way is suddenly blocked by two women kibbitzing.
Do not misunderstand Pepper, my knees do knock before a performance... I just try and channel that nervousness into a positive for me.

Good Luck and Happy New Year.

[Mitch Man]

This is one of my favourite topics because I've
made a habit of studying it!

Everyone gets nervous and it seems to get worse
for some as the years go by! I've seen a veteran
gr1 drummer fall apart at a gr3 band contest
and I've also had some real bloopers myself at
some relatively small contests where you would
think there should be no problem. (Montreal)

Why?

It's because we impose the pressure on ourselves!

It’s called Performance Anxiety and this can affect many people in all different fields.
Ever go into an exam and draw a blank answer for
something that you know rather well?
Ever come up short in a quiz game for something
as simple as name 10 cities that begin with the letter S?

The root cause of Performance Anxiety is confidence or lack of it.

The cure for PA is concentration and the ability
to focus.
While some may say that lots of practice will
build confidence, a sure way to overcome PA is
to condition your thinking processes while your
performing.

First, get into the zone, the ability to focus
and block out all distractions is essential.
Pick a point to focus on, like the PM’s Hands and
ignore or block out the audience and judges.

If your doing the solo thing, pick the leg of a
table, but under no circumstances pick the leg of
a good looking female. :lol:!
That, I refuse to ignore! :wink:

Second, concentrate on the expression of the tune
and all the characteristics you used to memorize
the tune with such as open tachums or 2 birls in
a part.

Every time I have made a mistake, it was because
I was thinking about everything else but the tune.
The key is to zone out all the distractions and
after A few good performances, your confidence
will come, but never get to over confident as
you will then lose your ability to apply your
system of protection.

A lot of big name performers suffer from Stage Fright too, but I think all of us would be a wee bit nervous if the camera and a view million
viewers were all focused in on just you.

Lucky for us we play bagpipes and this will never happen! :rolleyes:

JM

[Sean]

Originally posted by Pepperdean:
Hi guys. Was discussing the season with a couple of bandsmen the other day and we touched on being nervous, and how we handle our nerves, either competing or just performing say in a parade or such like. We all described various knock-kneed triggers that set us off, or don't as the case may be - with no real solutions to the problems. We all agreed it affected our performances, and wouldn't it be great not to be nervous. So, how do you guys suppress the nerves? Or don't you get nervous? :)

Pepperdean :)

[Sean]

Originally posted by Pepperdean:
Hi guys. Was discussing the season with a couple of bandsmen the other day and we touched on being nervous, and how we handle our nerves, either competing or just performing say in a parade or such like. We all described various knock-kneed triggers that set us off, or don't as the case may be - with no real solutions to the problems. We all agreed it affected our performances, and wouldn't it be great not to be nervous. So, how do you guys suppress the nerves? Or don't you get nervous? :)

Pepperdean :)

A couple swigs of Scotch has always helped me calm down. That and the mindset that I simply have a job to do and it is time for me to do it.

Maybe it's just easier for me, but that's how I approach every competition.

[Rick McFarlane]

Keeping a good focus during the play is crucial. My first few times solo were absolutely brutal! Since everything was rather new to me there was far too much going on to realize where I should be (or shouldn't be for that matter). After the first season things calmed down (a little), but I did find that the solo adventures really helped my playing in the band setting.

Now, even if the jitters set in before we get to the line, I find myself looking forward to hearing the rolls and steping off - as soon as we're movin' again it all feels comfortable and it's much easier to play actual music. That's the zone I think you're talking about John.

Of course, knowing the tunes is the first step in getting there and a good pipe takes away many variables. The rest is just plain fun. :)

Cheers,

[AWPIPER]

PMOTW wrote:
One person in my band when we are tuning up, just before the stewerd shows always has to stop and throw up !!!!!
**************************************************
Glad to know I am not the only one to do it!!! :D
Mark :wink:
AWPIPER@AOL.COM (mailto:AWPIPER@AOL.COM)

[Ian Lawther]

Originally posted by Mitch Man:


It’s called Performance Anxiety
JM


I always thought it was called Pre Minstrel Syndrome.....

[Mitch Man]

Thats PMS!

Pipe Major Syndrome: That's where you think you know everything! :cool:

PM JM :D

[Snooper]

I think a lot of anxiety in piping (or anything for that matter) has to do with one's level of preparation.

I learned by myself how to speak in front of large groups of people without much anxiety when I was asked to give a presentation on piping to members of the general public. I boned up on the history as much as I could and gave what I thought was a very informative and insightful presentation. I spent hours upon hours poring over all the material and was so well prepared that I literally couldn't screw it up. I suppose it helped that my audience was completely ignorant to the subject matter before I spoke.

As for playing in front of a judge, who will know the subject matter (probably far better than you will), for me there comes a time when I just have to give him or her a little bit of my New York attitude and say to myself: "here you go, THIS IS HOW IT GOES!" Right or wrong, at least I'm not worrying about how the judge is reacting to my performance. I've practiced this tune 500 times in the past year, this is what I've got.

Same thing with playing in the band. You've worked and worked on playing in unison and blowing like a rock, don't let the nerves get the better of you. Show 'em your stuff! Ya know what? It may not be the best performance of the day, but if you let the nerves get to you, it won't be your best performance of the day.

I say to the judge (in my head, at least), "this is the best performance you're gonna get today". It's usually not true, but that little bit of 'Tude gets me through to where I'm usually happy with how I played.


Jim Ryan

[Ron Teague]

nerves eh? Well--I was just reading P.G. Wodhouse "Jeaves to the Rescue" or the "Code of the Woosters" in which one of the 'heros' learns nerves of steel by thinking upon the foilables of his judges. Once he remembers how the judge sucks asperagus or burps over a beer then he isn't frightened of him any longer. SO think that the judge has prostate problems and has to widdle too much or beats his dog or sobbers in his beer and POOF the fear goes awa'. It is only when the judge has more power than he or she deserves that one gets nervous knees and has to pass water at the wrong moment. Just remember that the judge once was as nervous as you and was a wet behind the ears stripling as you. I recommend liking the judge and blessing them for all of their hard work and ALL of the putzsing performaces they had to endure to become a judge. Don't for get they blew a doubling and srewed up a pharsing 20 times more than you have. To become a judge one has to have failed, failed , failed before becoming a sucess. If old bulbous beak can become a sucess so can you. Have no fear, they can flunk you but they can't kill you and there is always another day.
cheers

Ron Teague

[Hadafew]

Maybe it's just me, but I don't think that the judge has much to do with the nervousness of the player -- it's really the audience, and especially peers in the audience, that makes me nervous. If it were just the judge and I in a room together, I don't think the nerves would be too bad. Like someone else said, a couple belts of whiskey never hurts either.

Hadafew

[Mitch Man]

Originally posted by Hadafew:
Maybe it's just me, but I don't think that the judge has much to do with the nervousness of the player -- it's really the audience, and especially peers in the audience, that makes me nervous. Hadafew

My point exactly!

The audience and your peers are not doing anything to make you nervous, It's a self imposed
fear of the audience that creates a major
distraction from concentrating on the music.

You have to learn how to block everything out!

JM

[Mike Szarka]

I actually find band contests much more nerve-wracking than solos. If I screw up solos, who cares? If I screw up in a band contest, I've let down 20 friends.

That said, as Snooper said, preparation is the key, in piping and most everything else. Going out and playing your bagpipe for five or six minutes should be drop dead simple if you have practiced enough and maintained your instrument.

Band is tougher because so many things can go wrong, you can't always adjust you blowing as easily as you can in solos (since you don't control the overall band pitch), you don't control the tempos, you can't voluntarily choose to break down! That means the preparation has to occur both at home but even more in the band setting, since you can only learn the art of band playing when you are maintaining tone with a dozen other pipers. This is why full turnout at band practices is so crucial, and why players whose home or work lives make it difficult them to commit to 100% (or close) attendance shouldn't play in bands.

Mike

[Spunky]

Know the music well enough that you don't even have to think about it. If your pipes are in great working order that's one less thing to worry about.
PLAY FOR YOURSELF! The guy with the pen and pad of paper just happens to be sitting in a chair close to where you're playing.
I know of a very good open player who has a very weird nervous habit. No names, but he must wash his hands 100 times before he performs.

[Stormy]

I have to agree with the previous posts by Mitch Man.
Before the circle I usually gave an outward show of "easy come easy go" (but I was nervous), but got very nervous once in the circle. I could not let the rest of the band down.
Another member was the total opposite, nervous as hell tuning up but once in the circle was fine - he was happy there.
You can't help nerves but you can learn to control them and personal confidence is a key factor. Put in the work at home and at practice and contests will be easier (but still nerve racking!).

[Mitch Man]

Originally posted by Stormy:
Before the circle I usually gave an outward show of "easy come easy go" (but I was nervous), but got very nervous once in the circle. I could not let the rest of the band down.

This seems to be the core of the problem of our
self-imposed pressure!

Yes, we will definetly let the band down if all
we think about is not screwing up!

Most of us "stop thinkingwhen the first roll is sounded and then the panic sets in!
We only focus on trying not to make a mistake, but that's like trying to lie to your Mom and
thinking your going to get away with it! :blush:

If you think you are going to make a mistake,
then you will make it happen!

Players need to get rid of the anxiety by just
focusing on the music, and the mistakes will
go away!

JM
Believe me, I've been there too!

[ January 01, 2002: Message edited by: Mitch Man ]

[Stormy]

Originally posted by Mitch Man:


Most of us "<span style="font-weight: bold">stop thinkingwhen the first roll is sounded and then the panic sets in!
We only focus on trying not to make a mistake, but that's like trying to lie to your Mom and
thinking your going to get away with it! :blush:

If you think you are going to make a mistake,
then you will make it happen!

[ January 01, 2002: Message edited by: Mitch Man ]</span>

One thing I learnt was to recognise when a mistake was about to happen and cut out before it came, compose yourself, then come back in again.
:rolleyes:

[ January 02, 2002: Message edited by: Stormy ]

[Mitch Man]

Stormy, Stormy Stormy!

We don't want to be teaching people how to be
cutting in and out!

No one can do this as good as you and I have! :D

JM

[Spunky]

I'm amazed at how the brain knows that you're about to screw up before your hands do. My brain has saved me a couple of times.

[Gary Speed]

Before I say anything about this thread I want you to know, I have played guitar and sang lead for stage bands, played guitar with a national cast of "Up With People". So playing in front of people is nothing new to me. However my first solo pipe competition was grade 4 in Costa Mesa for a piper of the LAS ( who name evades me) and as I stood there and played I could feel my knees shaking my kilt looked as though I was doing a hulla. It was the most never racking thing I have ever done. But as I competed in more contest with a good set of pipes my confidence and ability improved and the nerves have quieted down.
Cheers
Gary Speed

[Jim McGillivray]

I think very few people ever get over nervousness when playing. I think that over time the more successful players simply learn what they must do to perform well in spite of the nerves. Most top soloists should earn not only the Gold Medal, but an Oscar as well for acting cool, calm and with-it.

For me, preparation is paramount. I know how familiar I need to be with the tunes and how much facility I need to have with them to play them well under stage pressure. If I am on the stage without having had that prep, I tend to be more nervous and don't enjoy playing quite as much. Having said that, I know of other players who thrive on that seat-of-the-pants approach and are at their best then. Another crucial element for me is my instrument. First and foremost, if my instrument is even slightly to hard to blow I will almost invariably be extremely nervous and will make errors. I believe that a lot of people who go out in solos and bands and are chronic mistake-makers are blowing instruments that are too hard for them. Physical effort seems to compound nervousness.

Despite all this "experience' I have still had times on stage or in a band performance where my knees have knocked. You know that feeling when you put most of your weight on one leg and that knee starts to shake, so you shift to the other leg and that knee starts to shake? Man, I when that happens. You feel like everyone in the park is watching your leg vibrate.

One other point about nervousness &amp;#8211; fatigue compounds it as well. Maybe this pattern sounds familiar: get up at 5 a.m., drive to the games, run around the park all morning playing solos or yapping with friends, wolf down a horrible hot dog at lunch, run around the shops for awhile, tune up with the band for 90 minutes, run to the bathroom 400 yards away, go out on the field all shaky kneed and nervous and make two big blappers. Just bad nerves?? Maybe not.

Cheers,
Jim McGillivray

[Jeff Wolf]

...wolf down a horrible hot dog at lunch...
Cheers,
Jim McGillivray

Wolf down?! Hey! I resemble that! :wink:

[Ken MacKenzie]

Nerves... I wasn't going to tell this one on myself but, The first season I competed solo, after 46 years of quietly blowing away on the back corner of various bands, I found I was worse than a basket case.

This was a bit hard for me to understand since I could, and still can, stand in front of any number of people who know more than me about any subject and BS them for any length of time without a quiver. Stand me in front of a judge and I was a mess and getting worse.

After seeing in person the condition I kept trying to explain to him, my intrepid instructor, Jack Lee, mentioned this wonderful herbal rememdy that was known for it's ability to calm ones nerves. Kava-Kava it was called and he said I should maybe consult with a natureopath or herbalist to make sure it would do the job.

I found the only being of that description out here in the wilds, she was a natureopath, and when I visited her I found out why she was in the backwoods. A very strange person.

Anyway, after being assured I wouldn't suffer any harm from this drug she told me to take a handful of the stuff an hour or so before I was to go on. Also she advised me to give it a trail run before the event. I tried it a week in advance and since there was no reason for nerves during the test run I really couldn't tell if it worked but it didn't seem to cause any problem so on the big day I carefully estimated when I would go on after checking the order of play, and downed about half a dozen capsules.

Twenty minutes later I noticed a distinct light headedness but let it go by and walked up to the judge when my turn came.

It was a Gr2 MSR contest and he asked for my tunes and that's when I realized something was awfully wrong. I couldn't remember a thing. I tried humming to myself to jog my memeory but nothing came to the surface.

The judge kindly told me I could surprise him and I did just that. I think I played six bars of four different tunes and gave up, all this while tripping over my own feet and nearly falling over his table.

I wandered around in a daze for about two more hours until my jig contest came up and was able to get through it but my sheet remarked on my excessive speed. This on a tune I never played quite fast enough to please Jack.

At my next lesson he was a bit sheepish and admitted that he had never actually tried this stuff nor did he know anyone who had but was just trying to be helpful. Well, to cut this marathon a bit, not long ago I came across an article about Kava-Kava that extolled it's efficacy as an aid for frayed nerves but cautioned against taking a high dosage of it since it was highly intoxicating. Gee, I knew that...

Ken, still nervous but drug free.

[Pepperdean]

Ken, you cracked me up with your story. :D

I tried Kava Kava. With no result as far as I could (nervously) tell. Tried booze...no difference - obviously wasn't drinking enough.
Tried positive visualisation too, you know, just as your about to fall asleep the night before the competition, you visualise your set, you go through all the movements, you finish the competition and walk off to tumultuous applause and smiling faces all round etc. Didn't work either.

Och well. There's always a hypnotherapist I suppose.

Pepperdean

[Mitch Man]

Originally posted by Pepperdean:
Tried positive visualisation too, you know, just as your about to fall asleep the night before the competition, you visualise your set, you go through all the movements, you finish the competition and walk off to tumultuous applause and smiling faces all round etc. Didn't work either

:lol:!!!!!!

Yea, you just get started and then you hear your
middle tenor start to waiver!

You think "crap, there goes this performance!"

Then you forget if you repeated the 3rd part!

You then think "crap, there goes this performance!"

Then you miss the grip in the the 4th part!

You think "crap, should I even bother with S &amp; R!"
Why did I get out of bed? :rolleyes:

JM

[Stormy]

Originally posted by Jim McGillivray:

Maybe this pattern sounds familiar: get up at 5 a.m., drive to the games, run around the park all morning playing solos or yapping with friends, wolf down a horrible hot dog at lunch, run around the shops for awhile, tune up with the band for 90 minutes, run to the bathroom 400 yards away, go out on the field all shaky kneed and nervous and make two big blappers. Just bad nerves?? Maybe not.

Cheers,
Jim McGillivray

Why should we be nervous? Sounds just like a typical summer's day out which we all do for pure pleasure!

:(

[alexblack]

I sorta skimmed through the post here, but I did not see anyone talk about confidence. I'm not a veteran of the piping world, I've been competing solo for about 4 years now, but when I'm in front of a judge, knowing that I know how to play the tune, the right speed, and how the pipe score goes with it I can just concentrate on my sticks and the music. because no matter what I've come prepare for the contest, and done my best. This for me is the best way to get id of nerves, practice, practice, practice.

[Shannon Pennington(Larochelle)]

Nervousness! Well I'm only a bit nervous before I play, but knowing that I played it so many times, and like the one piper said, getting the fingers to memorize so you can just enjoy the ride. My nerves come after. After I'm done playing a solo or done doing a dance, then, my knees are shaky and I feel a little wobbly. Usually a beer calms it right away though :cool:

[David]

For unexplainable reasons, the look of a judge when I entered his playing area for solo competition, and exchanged those few formal words, made my nervousness tolerable or not.

An obvious aside: my nervousness was also very much diminished by playing tunes for which I had an especial fondness. I know this is obvious to say, but, many of my cohort were paranoid about selecting the "right" tune, and exhibited no love of the piece, once played.

The only time I wasn't nervous was my first time on the boards. In retrospect, I saw that I lacked the controlled tension-produced edge that allows us to push the envelope--and--I was playing a tune which belonged in Book Six of a five part collection produced by a bronze medal winner from three-competitor game.

[Bob]

OK David,

I wandered back into the kitchen to pour myself another adult beverage (Laphroaig - FWIW), I felt it was needed while trying to fully comprehend:

I was playing a tune which belonged in Book Six of a five part collection produced by a bronze medal winner from three-competitor game Daughter Alison made some snide comment about the adult beverage.. :shrug: I read her your comment, and she actually fell off the couch, onto the floor.. :lol:

Whew... thanks..

Bob

[Alison]

Ever since I was young(er) my dad always said "You're not nervous, you're excited." Somehow, this has become the truth for me, as I can say that the only time I actually get nervous is before I play; while I'm competing I'm cool as a cucumber. :shrug:

Alison

[BK Wynd]

A massage always works for me. Try one about half an hour before performance. It probably won't help but heck, at lease you got a good massage! :D

[Carl]

the other thing we aren't talking about is how much memory is "state dependent". The theory
is that as we learn, it is completely tied to every state our body is in. Usually we learn tunes
when we are relaxed, have eaten and slept, have no other demands on our attention, few distractions, little disapproval, etc, etc, etc. This means that our memory won't function as well when we are faced with any of these states. Practice in full dress, with people watching and
trying their hardest to distract you and you will find that your memory improves when playing
in public.

Just a thought...

Carl.