Performance anxiety is something almost no one can avoid. Even top professionals get nervous, and no method to completely eliminate it has been found. So the first thing to do is stop treating nervousness as something 'abnormal.' The moment you realize you are nervous, understanding that everyone around you feels the same helps reduce the sense of isolation. Even in competitions where rankings are given, every single person is dealing with some form of anxiety. Simply recognizing that you are not the only one struggling prevents unnecessary panic. Deciding in advance that when you notice tension, you will exhale and drop your shoulders can make a real difference. Nervousness is a natural response.
- Since no method to eliminate nervousness has been 'discovered,' it is more practical to prepare on the assumption that you will be nervous. The horn is a delicate instrument, so the harder you try to get rid of tension entirely, the more physical stiffness tends to increase.
- When you feel nervous, remind yourself that everyone else feels the same way. If you are all on the same playing field, the person who can best reproduce their normal playing wins, which makes your task clear.
- A teacher once said, 'Believe you are the best player in the world.' The basis for this is 'everything you have practiced up to now,' and fully trusting that even under pressure maximizes your performance.
- Furthermore, the awareness that 'you are the only one performing at this moment, so right now you are the best in the world' stops excessive comparison and helps you focus on the music right in front of you.
Rather than suppressing nervousness, converting it into focus is far more repeatable. Specifically, you turn actions like breathing and posture — things that 'reset you to normal' — into a routine. The framework rests on two ideas: 'everyone feels the same' and 'right now, I am the best in the world.' The first reduces isolation and panic; the second shifts your attention from the outside back inward. Once this is organized, even if nervousness remains, your actions become clear and your body moves closer to its normal state. The horn reveals even slight tension in its sound, so when a wave of nerves hits, having a switch that brings you back to 'breathing and posture' rather than 'thinking' is essential. Deciding on a short cue makes it easier to reset.
Practice Steps
- 1. Imagine situations where you get nervous in performance, and decide on a phrase to replace it, such as 'everyone feels the same.'
- 2. Establish a fixed breathing routine (e.g., deep breath, drop your shoulders, sit on your sit bones).
- 3. During run-through practice, pretend a wave of nerves has hit, and practice resetting to normal using your routine.
- 4. Turn your performance-day flow (from arriving at the venue to going on stage) into a routine to minimize hesitation.
Summary
It is important to have a system for channeling nervousness into focus, on the assumption that stage fright cannot be eliminated. Remind yourself that 'everyone feels the same' to reduce isolation, and think 'right now, I am the best in the world' to stop comparing. Then use a breathing and posture routine to bring back your normal movements. The more these elements come together, the closer your horn will sound to its normal tone even under pressure. If you decide on your routine before the performance, you will not need to rethink things every time nerves arise. As a result, your breathing will not stop, and your natural sound will come through more easily. Deciding what to do in the few seconds before going on stage keeps your mind from scattering. Practicing the same flow from your regular sessions makes it easier to reproduce on the day of the performance.
Video Info
- Title: Performance Anxiety on Horn: Building a Reliable Routine to Stay Focused, Knowing Everyone Feels the Same
- Instrument: horn
- Level: Beginner
