Need to decide whether to participate in small concert or not

ShiroKuro

Some of you might remember that I played in a winter concert at a retirement center (Nov 2024, so a little more than a year ago) with a group organized by music students at my uni. That was my last public perfomance (not including gatherings at my own house where I’ve played for people).

Well, the organizer contacted me and they’re doing another concert near the end of February and he invited me to play. I actually have two pieces that are about ready, that I think could work well together ….

But I haven’t played in a truly public setting since the last one, and I feel a little rusty. And work stuff is super busy this semester….

But this is probably my one chance for the semester…. And I am always wanting to have more chances to play publicly… But I also have performance anxiety, which manifests as shaky hands and makes my playing sloppy… but that’s why I always want to play more publicly because it helps me work on overcoming that…

But the two pieces I have ready are actually on the easier side, so they might be good choices for this public concert…

But will I have enough time to do the perfomance part of the prep (because of work stuff)

But but but….

😅

So, any advice about how I can arrive at a decision? Of course I’ll talk to my teacher about it on Wednesday, but what are the things you all would think about in making a decision?

keff

ShiroKuro but what are the things you all would think about in making a decision?

When I was working I would have had to be comfortable that I could squeeze in required piano practice with my professional life and normal life at home. However if I knew the pieces already I might not want to over practice immediately before a performance.
I would be encouraged to play the concert if the two pieces were easy enough at my level of skill and experience. I would also be encouraged if a request had been received to play. After all, would there be a second invitation if I declined this one? (I did decline to play for an ashes internment service at the local Salvation Army church because I didn't know the music well enough and it would be upsetting if it was messed up in front of bereaved family members.)
In my case I have learned by experience that playing in public would not reduce my performance anxiety if those opportunities only came up annually. That being so should I not derive some comfort from my regular performance in front of a teacher and also making recordings for PianoTell? I can reduce my anxiety at the start of each performance by taking a moment to think; do not try to play too quickly or loudly, concentrate and keep eyes on the music.

Animisha

ShiroKuro I have listened to recordings when you were not too happy with your own performance, and they were lovely to me. So, my advice is simply to say yes, knowing that you play well, that people will enjoy your pieces and that even if someone would notice a mistake, they won't care.

Not really an answer to your question, I realise. Okay, how to make that decision? For me, the most important question in your situation would be, in light of the work stuff I need to do, will I enjoy the extra practising that will be needed for the concert, or will it mainly be another burden? Do I already feel a bit overburdened, or, to the contrary, would the concert add some joy to my life that I need so much?

lilypad

ShiroKuro

ShiroKuro So, any advice about how I can arrive at a decision? Of course I’ll talk to my teacher about it on Wednesday, but what are the things you all would think about in making a decision?

One thought that helps me in decision making is "If I don't, will I wish I had?"

Animisha Do I already feel a bit overburdened, or, to the contrary, would the concert add some joy to my life that I need so much?

The flip side is "Will I regret having said yes to this?".

pianocat

If you decide to do it, I suspect you will find the time to prep, even with work stuff.

I admire you for doing a public performance at all. I attend a small meetup group every month and play for them, but I've not played in public. That you know about the shaky hands and do it anyway is fantastic.

ShiroKuro

keff if the two pieces were easy enough at my level of skill and experience.

They definitely are. I played them cold this morning (after not having played them for maybe two days, because my practice times were short), and they were fine. Mostly ready to go.

keff I would also be encouraged if a request had been received to play.

Yes! the organizer of the concert I played in in Nov. 2024 emailed me yesterday to see if I wanted to play in this upcoming concert 🙂

keff playing in public would not reduce my performance anxiety if those opportunities only came up annually.

Yes, this has always been my complaint. When I'm performing at home, on my own piano, even when there are close to 20 people there, I have maybe only 10% of the amount of shakes that I get when I'm playing publicly somewhere else. but once a year of public playing just isn't enough.

Having said that, in terms of trying to learn how to get control of the performance anxiety, it's better to do it than not do it!

So that's where my thinking is at the moment. I'm leaning toward doing it!

ShiroKuro

@pianocat @Animisha and @lilypad thank you all for the encouraging words!

I think if I don't do it, I'll regret it.

In terms of work vs. practice time, since I played through the pieces this morning and confirmed that they're pretty much ready to go, I think it will be ok because I shouldn't need a lot of long practice sessions.

So, as I said above, I'm leaning toward doing it!

I'm in my office now, I'll put in a few hours, go home at dinner time, and then do my regular practice after dinner, and then maybe decide... Well, that and I'm going to email my teacher now to see what she thinks.

twocats

I think you should do it! Retirement centers are the most forgiving audience and they're just grateful that people made time to come play music for them. Even if you make some mistakes, no one cares!

ShiroKuro

twocats thank you!! Yes, this is a pretty nice facility. It's not a nursing home, but rather part of a big retirement community. Actually, I think there are some "assisted living" units, but I think it's one of those "age in place" kind of facilities where you move in when you're still healthy, and then as you age and need more assistance, you either don't have to move, or you only move within the large community. (sorry, not super relevant, but just to say that it's not a nursing home).

When I played there in 2024, the room was packed! I don't think there were any empty chairs. And as you say, they were very welcoming and it was a nice environment. 🙂

Nightowl

ShiroKuro It sounds like you reached a decision and you're doing it. 🙂 I think you'll enjoy playing in front of such a welcoming audience. Good luck.

thepianoplayer416

When I'm relaxed, I can play tunes without giving much thought. I can play pieces easily in a piano store or a public piano but when I'm in a concert, I usually play a few wrong notes. Knowing that you're playing in an auditorium with people watching adds to the anxiety. Being well prepared doesn't always solve the problem. IMO performance anxiety has less to do with preparation than the mindset. Slow breathing would slows the heart rate. The other part is to visualize yourself playing in front of an audience while staying focused on the music.

Once I was in a gathering playing a few holiday tunes including "Christmas Time is Here" from Charlie Brown Christmas. It's a casual gathering with people socializing, eating and drinking in the background. In a typical performance when you know the audience is watching in silence, the panic sets in. Last year I performed a few hymns in church. It's a less stressful environment. The sound recording was on. At the same time the audience was also singing along. You feel you're not the only person they're watching so the anxiety was much less.

Today I had a rehearsal with a strings ensemble group in a senior home. The music was new. We sight read the movements of a suite and a concerto grosso. Occasionally some people would walk in casually and listen. The music is unfamiliar but in a group setting you feel less exposed especially when there is 1 other person playing the same part.

ShiroKuro

Hmm, I responded that I would attend and asked about details, and they said that maybe I can only play one piece (rather than two). They're waiting to confirm who else will attend, and I assume they have a specific time length they want to stay under.
The last time I played, there were three other pianists. I played three pieces (total of maybe just under 15 minutes), and the other pianists played longer pieces.

I don't know if I want to play if I can only play one piece. The reason for that is because I have found that I always do better with the shaky hands when I play more than one piece.

Hmm.... I'll have to think about it. And talk with my teacher. I know there's benefit to doing it even if I only play one piece, but I will enjoy it more if I can do two.

Hopefully when they know the number of performers, they can tell me the number of minutes I'll be allowed.

BTW, I know that sometimes in the past, they've had concerts that were canceled because they didn't have enough players. So participation is probably pretty random....