Practice Performing
Your audience is never ‘naked’. So don’t imagine them that way. Yuck!
Instead, practice performing!
Performing is a skill. Like any other part of music, it needs practice. The more you simulate real performance conditions, the more comfortable you’ll feel when it counts. Here’s how you can build confidence and control before stepping on stage.
Simulate Performance Conditions
Recreate the environment of a live performance during practice sessions.
Dress in your performance attire during practice.
Play through your pieces without stopping.
Follow performance etiquette, including bowing and stage presence.
Set up a practice space that mimics a concert setting.
Play for family and friends
Organise a small home recital.
Play for a sibling, parent, or friend before dinner.
Invite a few friends over and make it a casual event.
Treat each run-through as a real performance.
Record and Review
Set up a camera or phone and record your playing.
Listen for tone quality, rhythm, and musical expression.
Watch your posture, movement, and stage presence.
Identify areas that need improvement and adjust your practice accordingly.
Participate in school/community events
Sign up for school recitals or music nights.
Enter a local competition or eisteddfod.
Play at a community event or festival.
Treat these as stepping stones to bigger performances.
Attend studio classes
Join your teacher’s studio concert, where peers perform for each other and their families.
Gain experience playing for an audience in a relaxed setting.
Listen to others and learn from their performances.
Book sessions with your accompanist
Schedule rehearsals with your pianist before a performance.
Play through your program without stopping.
Record the session for later review.
Work on listening more deeply to the work as a whole; knowing your tempi, entries and ensemble challenges.
Remember to record these sessions for future reference.
Try Busking
Busking is a great way to play to a relaxed audience. Apply to your local council or markets for a permit to busk and share your music with the unsuspecting public.
Get used to performing for passers-by in an informal setting.
Learn to handle distractions and different audience reactions.
Use it as a fun way to build confidence and stage presence.
Mental Rehearsal
Visualising your performance can be as beneficial as physical practice. Close your eyes and imagine yourself walking on stage.
Picture every detail, from the audience to the lighting.
Hear the music in your head as you perform it.
Use this technique before a big performance to reduce nerves.
Mock Performances
Organise a casual concert for friends or family.
Perform in front of fellow musicians for constructive feedback.
Treat each run-through as a full performance.
Learn to manage nerves in a supportive environment.
Benefits of Practising Performance
The best way to get better at performing is to do it often. Treat every opportunity as a chance to learn and improve. The more you step outside your comfort zone, the stronger and more assured you’ll become on stage.
You learn to handle nerves and stay focused under pressure.
Your ability to communicate musically improves.
Your confidence grows, and playing in front of others feels natural.
Use some of these methods in your preparation to more effectively bridge the gap between rehearsal and performance. It may feeling a little daunting at first but you may well surprise yourself of what you’re capable of!