How to approach stress and anxiety in musical situations
Exams can be stressful for everyone involved, no matter your skill level, level of experience or how prepared you feel. Getting nervous and stressed is a natural part of exams or life for many people. If you are one of these, then trying to counteract the stress can be difficult or near impossible depending on just how nervous you feel.
Do you experience any of the following:
- Shaking
- Sweaty hands/palms
- Accelerated heart beat
- Constant negative thoughts
- Constant interference (mentally/physcially) - this could be on purpose or by accident)
- Losing concentration and not being focussed on the present
There are many more side effects of being stressed or anxious, but doing simple hand exercises or instrument exercises can help. If you find yourself getting any of these then there are a number of things you can do.
- Clench and relax your hand creating a fist over and over
- Running your thumb across your finger tips in sequences (Index, Middle, Ring, Pinkie) (Middle, Ring, Pinkie, Index) and so on
- Repeating the previous exericse across both hands (left and right simultaneously)
- Gently bending and rotating your wrist and hands
- Streching your arm and elbows by gently pulling them across your body
- Warming up with scales, arpeggios or technical exercises for your instrument or voice
Of course being prepared (as much as possible) for any event will help to calm your nerves and stress levels but sometimes you will have to play gigs, auditions and events being a little unprepared due to time constraints, sight reading and other musical situations.
Some musicians believe drinking (even a small amount) can help to relax your body and mind. While this might work from time to time relying on alcohol or drinking before a gig will come back to haunt you eventually so try and find an alternative method.