Recital Nervousness

My hands shake badly when I play in front of a group. I'm in my mid forties and began taking lessons about a year and a half ago. (I took clarinet, sax and voice lessons through college, but always wanted to learn piano.)

I'm an extrovert and do a lot of public speaking (which doesn't make me nervous), but for some reason my hands shake during recitals. It isn't a case of not knowing the piece. I make sure that I'm prepared, but still my heart races and my hands shake like crazy. Does anyone have any tips on getting rid of this case of nerves? I've tried deep breathing and warming my hands, but so far to no avail. Thanx!

See a doctor and ask about a drug called Inderal. I suffer from familial hand tremors, and although I do not use the drug anymore, it helped me control the shaking in the past. I took it on an as-needed basis. The drug itself is used for heart patients to control hypertension, but oddly enough, one of it's side effects is hypertension. I never suffered this, but eventually my doctor took me off of the drug because he said he couldn't ethically leave me on it for a lifetime just for hand tremors. See a doctor, anyway, and maybe science has come up with a better solution.

Please please please do not use any drug!

I played a concert with a wonderful instrumentalist, a top professional, who took Inderal; and the result was that his big fat gorgeous sound was actually inaudible from three feet away where I sat at the piano.

You've just begun playing the piano for people, and you don't get nervous when speaking in public. Could you try accepting the nerves, knowing that they may well lessen each time you play for people?

James Boyk

There are two cures only besides hypnotism and pills (terrible solutions). Know your piece so well that you can't make a mistake (CAN'T) and perform often. Nothing else will work including gimmicks. Also, welcome to the club! Sometimes coffee or other intake causes nerves as well as fatigue. Good luck!

There are varying dosage levels, James. And you don't have to take the drug every day. It is a fast-acting drug (not time released). It didn't 'dummy' me up (or down), and it didn't affect my playing. It took good care of the hand tremors, though. Bottom line, ask a doctor. Like I said, there may be better things out there. There might even be forms of hypnosis that could help, or relaxation techniques. Maybe one glass of wine. Always look to holistic approaches, first.

<< I'm an extrovert and do a lot of public speaking (which doesn't make me nervous), but for some reason my hands shake during recitals. >>

Y'know, if you live in California, you can get a special prescription for

Kevin,

I largely agree with James Boyk about the value of NOT taking drugs if at all possible.

As I mentioned in someone else's thread about this a few months ago (you may want to look that thread up, too), there are homeopathic medicines for this which cannot possibly mess you up. Probably gentle herbal ones too.

I've found learning mental self-control is the best option (for me), i.e. attitude adjustment. Takes attention & practice, but it CAN work.

Anyway, give yourself some time; you sound new to this performing business. Go easy on yourself & try not to obsess about it.

All best, Joe Kubera

This view is narrow and ill advised. If a PRESCRIPTION drug can do the job, then let it. Like with ANYTHING else, you have to be careful. See a DOCTOR about it.

Your experience of doctors must be different from mine. I have yet to find one who understands the level of awareness and responsiveness one's body must maintain for musical performance; and awareness and responsiveness are what drugs take away. On second thought, perhaps I've found one such doctor

I guess the prescription of benzedrine for pilots flying long missions during WWII was designed to lower their awareness and responsiveness so they could be shot down more easily. TS

about the value of NOT taking drugs if at all possible. job, then let it. Like with ANYTHING else, you have to be careful. See a DOCTOR about it.

Nervousness, like love, music, art, etc., is all in the mind. Therefore, IN PRINCIPLE it should be controllable. Unfortunately, there are too many 'buts'. However, I am convinced that it will only be a matter of time before good methods of reducing or even eliminating it will be found, without drugs, although drugs may be a great way to eliminate it mentally so that you don't need it after a while. I am gathering material on nervousness for my book, and it is substantial. BUT, I have not yet found the silver bullet, just lots of good suggestions and the defnite feeling that this can be beat. BUT, it is also a universal problem, and is just that