Who This Is For

  • Parents and Students
  • Performance

What You'll Learn

Feeling nervous before a performance is normal. Most students are not trying to get rid of nerves completely. They are trying to stop nerves from taking over the tempo, the breathing, and the opening few bars.

  • Feeling nervous before a performance is normal. Most students are not trying to get rid of nerves completely. They are trying to stop nerves from taking over the tempo
  • The breathing
  • The opening few bars

Feeling nervous before a performance is normal. Most students are not trying to get rid of nerves completely. They are trying to stop nerves from taking over the tempo, the breathing, and the opening few bars.

This guide is broader than exam nerves. It is for concerts, class performances, open days, and any time a student has to play in front of other people.

Four Calm Steps

1. Slow The First BreathBefore the student starts, the breathing needs to slow down enough for the body to settle.
2. Hear The OpeningThe first tempo should be in the student's head before the hands or voice begin.
3. Practise RecoveryStudents should know what to do after a small mistake instead of assuming the performance is over.
4. Repeat The RoutineThe same reset used in lessons should be used on the day. New tricks rarely help at the last minute.

Why nerves hit hardest at the start

Most students do not fall apart in the middle first. They rush the opening, forget the first line, or tighten up before the piece settles. That is why teachers spend so much time on starts.

If the opening feels known, the rest of the performance often improves with it.

What to do in the week before

  • Do full run-throughs instead of fragments only.
  • Practise the first line more than once each session.
  • Play for one other person before the event if possible.
  • Keep the routine normal instead of suddenly doubling practice time.

A Calm Performance Routine

Students usually settle faster when they know exactly what to do before the first note.

Performance anxiety card about breathing and settling
Calm usually starts before the first note, not after it.
Performance anxiety card about hearing the opening clearly
The opening needs to feel known before the student begins.
Performance anxiety card about recovering from mistakes
Recovery matters because a small slip should not decide the whole performance.
Performance anxiety card summary
A repeatable routine gives students something solid to trust on the day.

What parents can do on the day

Arrive on time. Keep the mood steady. Avoid speeches about making the family proud or not making mistakes. Students usually calm down when the adults around them act as if the preparation is enough.

Quick Takeaway

  • Nerves are normal. Panic is what needs managing.
  • The opening of the piece deserves extra practice.
  • Students need a recovery plan for small mistakes.
  • Calm routines work better than last-minute motivation.

Related reading

Useful Reading Outside Soundskool

If a student keeps getting nervous before playing, the routine around the performance usually needs attention before the music itself does.

Read the RSL Prep Guide Register for Lessons

Quick Takeaway

  • Feeling nervous before a performance is normal. Most students are not trying to get rid of nerves completely. They are trying to stop nerves from taking over the tempo
  • The breathing
  • The opening few bars

Share This Article