The Unlocking Your Potential changed everything about the way I approach practice and performing. Almost two years later and I’m still applying the techniques covered in the course. The best investment I’ve made in myself and my musical growth. Highly recommended.
So great to hear you're still feeling the benefits of the course a few years on, Charles! And thanks for the kind words (One small comment: the official course name is "Unlock Your Performance" - though it should definitely help unlock people's potential too 😉)
Thanks so much for the kind words, Marcus. I'm going to put out more videos regularly. Was there any topic in particular that you'd like to see me cover?
I'm not a fan of using alcohol (or beta blockers or whatever) to address nerves. It might have some positive effects, but there can also be negative ones. Plus, if it becomes something you rely on then if you find yourself in a situation where you can't have a drink before you play then the absence of your chosen strategy could create a big hit to your confidence.
Hi Mark - 'people share all sorts of tips about how to reduce nerves when performing music, but what does the science show is most effective?' I LOVE this opening statement and addressing this cogently and faithfully to the literature would really serve musicians.....but.....though I applaud you for asking this question and opening up this topic of conversation and encouraging research-based interventions, it's such a shame when you say 'scientifically proven strategies' - because this is a misrepresentation of the music performance anxiety (MPA) research literature. The elephant in the room here is that this video isn't actually about a piece of research that answers your opening question about MPA. Is there a particular reason why you cherry picked this meta analysis (which is not specifically researching MPA or even musicians), rather than the voluminous work of Dr Dianna Kenny, for example?
Thanks for your comment, Nick. I'm not sure why you say this is a misrepresentation of the research literature, though. The aim here is simply to share a good piece of analysis because I think it has some suggestions that people will find useful. It's not an attempt to claim it's the ONLY research that matters (so I have nothing against any of the other research - I just happened not to choose it as subject matter for this particular video). On your MPA point. Is there some reason why research on anxiety in general is not relevant to musicians? Of course it's nice when research comes from studies specifically on musicians. But I don't see why that means we should actively ignore any research that's been done in other, related contexts.
@@PlayInTheZone it's just that as a scientist, to be careful about making bold claims and distorting the evidence, even subtly. 'The science' is only as good as the integrity of the scientists presenting and deriving meaning from the data. So it's a misrepresentation to suggest that that this study shows what is 'most effective' when it comes specifically to 'how to reduce nerves when performing music' which is the question your introduction poses, because the study cited isn't about that. What you ARE saying that's immensely useful is that YOU think this study is potentially relevant to musicians, and that you believe it is worth their attention. THAT I have no qualms with whatsoever - I wholeheartedly agree. As I say - it's an outstanding **question** you pose at the beginning - and no-doubt much of what you point to in this video is relevant specifically to MPA - but it's spurious to claim that anything about MPA is proven by the study you chose out of thousands of alternatives. Students of classical rhetoric and logic will recognise this trap as an example of the cherry picking logical fallacy. So in this sense it's a misrepresentation of the MPA research literature specifically. I'm not for a second suggesting we should 'ignore research in other [potentially] related contexts'. As I say - I see HUGE value in what you're setting out to do here, and you're changing the landscape - which overall is positive. For anyone curious about how this kind of thing is prevented and taught at the Royal College of Music here's a great book called 'Bad Science' by Ben Goldacre that the Performance Science MSc students at the RCM are set to read because it is all about the ways people abuse the word 'science' in service of a sales / journalistic / other agenda. Challenging stuff, but essential reading for any rigorous student of science. Here's the link if anyone is interested: www.amazon.co.uk/Bad-Science-Ben-Goldacre/dp/000728487X
I think we need to recognize that anxiety is a continuum, not just one state. If you have a bit of anxiety, likely these tips will be helpful but f you're very anxious and can't actually focus on these strategies, then it's amazing what a little atavan can do to help you relax - before and during the performance. Must remember we're dealing with our subtle body or autonomic nervous system which doesn't really listen to the mind attempting to control it. Hence, the red face, shaking, shallow breathing, panic...the drug goes right to this center and calms the body/mind down. But not something everyone would agree with or do...
WATCH NEXT: Simple Neuroscience Tip Calms Performance Nerves - ua-cam.com/video/hGEKqRXYHto/v-deo.html
You always go to the heart of the matter and untie the inner knots that bind us. Your positivity is practical and compassionate.
The Unlocking Your Potential changed everything about the way I approach practice and performing. Almost two years later and I’m still applying the techniques covered in the course. The best investment I’ve made in myself and my musical growth. Highly recommended.
So great to hear you're still feeling the benefits of the course a few years on, Charles! And thanks for the kind words (One small comment: the official course name is "Unlock Your Performance" - though it should definitely help unlock people's potential too 😉)
Always very useful your comments!!! Thanks Mark!!
So glad it was helpful, Ines.
thank you, love these videos, hope you will do more.
Thanks so much for the kind words, Marcus. I'm going to put out more videos regularly. Was there any topic in particular that you'd like to see me cover?
Very interesting. :)
Some people just drink a beer before they go on stage. That being said though, this was a very good video. Thank you.
I was advised to try Scotch...I will pass on that.
I'm not a fan of using alcohol (or beta blockers or whatever) to address nerves. It might have some positive effects, but there can also be negative ones. Plus, if it becomes something you rely on then if you find yourself in a situation where you can't have a drink before you play then the absence of your chosen strategy could create a big hit to your confidence.
I would think that alcohol would impair your ability to perform
Worry is the misuse of imagination.
Hi Mark - 'people share all sorts of tips about how to reduce nerves when performing music, but what does the science show is most effective?' I LOVE this opening statement and addressing this cogently and faithfully to the literature would really serve musicians.....but.....though I applaud you for asking this question and opening up this topic of conversation and encouraging research-based interventions, it's such a shame when you say 'scientifically proven strategies' - because this is a misrepresentation of the music performance anxiety (MPA) research literature. The elephant in the room here is that this video isn't actually about a piece of research that answers your opening question about MPA. Is there a particular reason why you cherry picked this meta analysis (which is not specifically researching MPA or even musicians), rather than the voluminous work of Dr Dianna Kenny, for example?
Thanks for your comment, Nick. I'm not sure why you say this is a misrepresentation of the research literature, though. The aim here is simply to share a good piece of analysis because I think it has some suggestions that people will find useful. It's not an attempt to claim it's the ONLY research that matters (so I have nothing against any of the other research - I just happened not to choose it as subject matter for this particular video).
On your MPA point. Is there some reason why research on anxiety in general is not relevant to musicians? Of course it's nice when research comes from studies specifically on musicians. But I don't see why that means we should actively ignore any research that's been done in other, related contexts.
@@PlayInTheZone it's just that as a scientist, to be careful about making bold claims and distorting the evidence, even subtly. 'The science' is only as good as the integrity of the scientists presenting and deriving meaning from the data. So it's a misrepresentation to suggest that that this study shows what is 'most effective' when it comes specifically to 'how to reduce nerves when performing music' which is the question your introduction poses, because the study cited isn't about that.
What you ARE saying that's immensely useful is that YOU think this study is potentially relevant to musicians, and that you believe it is worth their attention. THAT I have no qualms with whatsoever - I wholeheartedly agree.
As I say - it's an outstanding **question** you pose at the beginning - and no-doubt much of what you point to in this video is relevant specifically to MPA - but it's spurious to claim that anything about MPA is proven by the study you chose out of thousands of alternatives. Students of classical rhetoric and logic will recognise this trap as an example of the cherry picking logical fallacy.
So in this sense it's a misrepresentation of the MPA research literature specifically. I'm not for a second suggesting we should 'ignore research in other [potentially] related contexts'. As I say - I see HUGE value in what you're setting out to do here, and you're changing the landscape - which overall is positive.
For anyone curious about how this kind of thing is prevented and taught at the Royal College of Music here's a great book called 'Bad Science' by Ben Goldacre that the Performance Science MSc students at the RCM are set to read because it is all about the ways people abuse the word 'science' in service of a sales / journalistic / other agenda. Challenging stuff, but essential reading for any rigorous student of science.
Here's the link if anyone is interested: www.amazon.co.uk/Bad-Science-Ben-Goldacre/dp/000728487X
One hour before performance, 10 mg. of propranolol. It requires a doctor's prescription.
I have been told to eat a Banana 30 min to an hour before performance.
I think we need to recognize that anxiety is a continuum, not just one state. If you have a bit of anxiety, likely these tips will be helpful but f you're very anxious and can't actually focus on these strategies, then it's amazing what a little atavan can do to help you relax - before and during the performance. Must remember we're dealing with our subtle body or autonomic nervous system which doesn't really listen to the mind attempting to control it. Hence, the red face, shaking, shallow breathing, panic...the drug goes right to this center and calms the body/mind down. But not something everyone would agree with or do...
ｐｒｏｍｏｓｍ 😍