Ask Augustin 18 - Face your fears!

In this installment I talk about facing your fears! I mention three fears in this episode: fear of playing hard passages in performance, fear of using your bow all the way up to the frog, and stagefright, the most common fear and anxiety that most performers experience!

When a passage is very difficult, it's natural to feel a bit cautious and scared when playing it - but the listener senses that, and even if the passage went well, they won't quite believe it. You have to be courageous and confident in performance - practice the passage a lot, but then go for it in performance. If you miss that jump, you'll hopefully get it next time, but at least you had the right attitude!
I also talk about not being afraid of the frog - it's the best part of your bow! (I know nobody is actually afraid of it - but there can be a reluctance, not using those last few inches of bow just to stay out of trouble).
I used to not have stagefright as a child, and then got quite nervous performing when I became an adult. Eventually I found some things that helped me with it. I think positively about the feeling, as a rush of excitement, rather than nervousness. I also pay attention to my breathing, and breathing the same in performance and in rehearsal helps me feel relaxed and at ease in the concert. (The worst thing you can do when you're nervous is to stop breathing) After years of performing a lot, I actually always look forward to the adrenaline rush I feel when standing on stage in front of people.

Видео Ask Augustin 18 - Face your fears! канала Augustin Hadelich