22/08/2024
Nerves...? Eyes provide sensory information to the brain.
Release 'nervous' tension by allowing the eyes to curiously explore, thinking of contented, circular, exploratory movement of the eyes.
Allow eyes to wander, include your peripheral vision and allow the neck and head to move too.
Notice what happens to your breathing!
Stage 1: try out when practising challenging music
Stage 2: try out in rehearsal
Stage 3: try out in concert
Why? Because under pressure, eyes widen and focus narrows. This can sometimes remove the creativity, exploration and joy from performing. The narrowed focus may also make us feel uncomfortable.
Nerves in the head and neck are responsible for voice production, swallowing, hearing, initiating muscle action in the jaw and tongue, and the information that contributes to regulation of breathing.
This is one performance anxiety technique the RAM postgraduates will be exploring with me next term on their Enhanced Performance Techniques module.