Do you ever get nervous playing for other people or when you're recording?
Asked by Adam R ·
Seeing your energy while performing, even in front of the camera, makes me admired to it. But I have issue with getting nervous, shaky and overthinking every time i shall perform in front of people, going on a exam or even while recording myself (just to track my progress), so that stops me from putting 100% in what i have learned into performing it. So, if you have time, i would like to hear about your thinking process, or personal opinion on this problem. Sending best regards, Adam R
Emil Ernebro answers Thank you for your message!
I've struggled a lot with stage fright and recording anxiety myself earlier in my life. For me, it was often unpredictable, sometimes I felt completely comfortable, and other times I played far below my actual ability.
What has helped me most is experience. The more you perform, the better you get at handling it. I also try to focus on what I feel rather than overthinking everything. And remember, the audience is on your side! They're not waiting for you to make mistakes, and a few mistakes won't change the world.
I've talked to some of the greatest musicians on earth about stage fright, and many of them have struggled with it at some point in their lives. I think it's important to understand that you're not alone in feeling this way. It's a very common problem, even among professional musicians who have been performing for decades.
I worked on thinking positive thoughts when getting to the venue or recording sessions. Because if you constantly listen to your "fears" or thoughts that might be negative - you start to believe it after a while even if the negative thoughts are not true. So I'd practice thinking positively - even when I didn't believe the positive thoughts at first. This is something that I worked on for years, and I struggle much less now than I did in my younger years.
So keep playing, keep performing, and don't let it stop you from doing what you love. Try to turn the nervousness into excitement, and focus on the music rather than your thoughts. It really can get better!
All the best,
Emil