I am just a little uneasy because I have a piano recital on Tuesday. I have done piano recitals before, but not in front of such a large audience. I am also worried that I will mess up because I have never played an entire piece by memory before. Hopefully everything will go well and I will not be too nervous to play. ^_^ Does anyone have any tips about how to avoid stage fright?

Just imagine the audience in their underwear. I don't know how a massive group of people who are nearly naked watching your every move would help, but people tell me it does.

I know what that feels like. I used to do modeling before I quit a few years ago. I think that the best advice I can give you is to smile.....or laugh. Do either of those things and you`ll be fine. And everyone gets nervous when performing in front of a large audience. It's a part of being on stage. But even if you play a wrong note, just keep on playing and remember as long as you appear happy on stage then the audience will relax a little knowing that you are happy to entertain them. 

 

By the way, the piano is my favorite instrument. 

 

I hope this helps! 

Just play your pieces over and over before hand. That's what I do with my guitar performances.

Also if it's in an auditorium or something. Stare at the back of the room, like the exit sign or something. That's what I do when I'm dancing.

Apparently lots of famous singers/performers imagine their audience naked. I think it was Hayley Williams (Paramore) said she nearly laughed out loud when there was a fat old lady in the audience.

 

But really, you can't avoid stage fright. You can ignore it or you can embrace it and use it to fuel your emotions in your performance.

 

It's just experience you need. After lots of time performing in front of people becomes slightly easier.

Edited December 10, 201212 yr by KeybladeWielder_

Just take pride that you a better pianist  than a majority of the audience and they won't notice if you make a small mistake. That's what i use to do anyway. x) I'm not sure if that helps.

The best idea would to not get to choked up about it, and play like you've never played before. If you make a few mistakes here and there, oh well. Just play through them and hopefully everything will go alright. 

 

Also think of everyone as a Walmart employee (haha, Walmart) , I don't know why but it may give you a confidence boost~

Take deep breaths, when your practicing pretend there's an audience, stay calm, and have a load of fun I wish the best of luck to you

Thanks for the advice everyone I will keep all of your tips in mind. I feel a little better now.

don't pay attention to the crowd and have full concentration on your work. and don't mind a few mistakes if ever occurred and keep playing.

The best advantage to a piano recital is something that most instruments don't have. For the most you don't have to pay attention to the audience( hell you don't even have to look at them), just focus on your playing and make sure you hit all the notes. As far as playing by memory the trick is to break the entire piece into segments, and practise them individually. Once you've mastered each segment playing the whole peice should be a breeze.

Just imagine everyone in their underwear, unless everyone you are playing for happens to be a super model and doing that only distracts you. 

Try to imagine and practice that situation a lot. Also, if you do one little mistake, just continue like nothing would have happened many people will forged that or don't even notice. Just have confidence in yourself and you will do just fine!

The best advantage to a piano recital is something that most instruments don't have. For the most you don't have to pay attention to the audience( hell you don't even have to look at them), just focus on your playing and make sure you hit all the notes. As far as playing by memory the trick is to break the entire piece into segments, and practise them individually. Once you've mastered each segment playing the whole peice should be a breeze.

 

Yeah, that's how I got over my stage fright at my piano recitals!! Just don't always look at the audience and focus on the piano! If you are confident in yourself and believe that you have practiced each piece then don't worry! If you happen to mess up don't let anyone know, and keep on going! The worst thing is if you let people notice that you know you made a mistake. As long as you just focus on your work and get through your songs you'll be fine.

I've haven't done much on stages, but when I'm nervous around people in general I try to remember that they're only human, and they're able to make mistakes as well.  I've also heard that people imagine an audience in their underwear, but I think that runs along the same lines as remembering they're human.

 

Just do your best, smile, and pretend they're not there; you'll do great!  Good luck.