Being well-prepared for a music exam is crucial. By ‘preparing’, I’m not referring to the amount of practice required to pass exams. A considerable amount of practice is needed to achieve satisfactory marks. But once you have prepared thoroughly, the real ‘practice’ begins, that is, performance practice.

It is too easy to go to your lessons every week and play your pieces and scales plus aural and sight reading, and think that you are now ready for your exam. The problem with this is that you will turn up for the exam totally unprepared for the (often) huge inconvenience called nerves or performance anxiety. If you have never suffered from nerves or ‘stage fright’ before then this can come as quite a shock. You may be a super-confident player who is largely unaffected by these feelings but the overwhelming majority of candidates experience some of the following: heart palpitations, sweaty hands, memory muddle/loss or (my favourite) trembling legs and feet – exacerbated by high heels!

This is all completely normal and there are copious measures to deal with these feelings. Your teacher will be instrumental in helping here, however, you still may need to practice performing in addition to your lessons.

The main factor is how to control your mind. Once you have achieved this you will be able to focus fully on the music that you are playing and not on what your audience is thinking.

Here are a few brief tips:

1.

Thorough preparation is essential as I have mentioned above. It helps counteract self doubt that so often creeps into the mind especially when ever higher standards are expected.

2.

Try to have a realistic approach to your performance. Perfectionist attitudes don’t really help. At the end of the day you just have to be satisfied with doing your best.

3.

Pay attention to your posture and make sure your breathing is helping you stay calm and relaxed. Some find it helpful to do breath control exercises such as Alexander Technique.

4.

Acknowledgment of problems and the determination to perform, in spite of these, appears to be paramount. Learning to perform well despite the inconvenience of trembling hands, for example.

5.

I find positive imagery to be most beneficial. Thinking of images that project musical and technical skills and competence in a positive way can often tame the ‘negative voice’. The ‘I can’ mantra can help overcome all kinds of self doubt.

If you can implement some of these ideas and suggestions then you will be well on your way to a distinction in your forthcoming exam. Don’t think you can achieve such a high mark? Yes, you can!