I asked many of my students to casually record themselves during practice to reduce their anxiety. It was something different that I wanted to try for getting ready for the Christmas recital. I’ve noticed a big decrease in stage fright this year and it reduced their anxiety.
Casual Recording vs Regular Recording
Casual recording is different than regular recording. Here’s the difference.
In regular recording, you’re playing through something 200 times trying to get a good take. You’re used to playing it perfectly, but it won’t come out right because that ominous recording light is on. It’s important to get everything perfect because you’re going to share it with others.
In casual recording, you just turn on the recording device, whatever comes out comes out, and you go back to practicing as normal. You don’t plan on sharing the recording, but you might review it to see if there’s something that you can improve. Maybe.
Some Results
First of all, I have to say that I didn’t create a scientific study. I’m dealing with people, not double-blind studies. Here are the patterns I’m seeing from my students and myself in the nervousness factor.
Starting Point: Crash and burn at least once per phrase, insists they can play perfectly at home. I believe them. I assign them to casually record themselves once a day.
1 Week of Recording Themselves: played through the whole thing with only one or two crash-and-burns.
2 Weeks of Recording Themselves: played through the whole thing with confidence, one or two small mistakes.
3 Weeks of Recording Themselves: played through the whole thing with confidence and emotion. Maybe a mistake or two because they’re human.
I have a tendency to attract a certain kind of student to my studio. I’m not saying that your results will be the same. Yours might be better or worse. This is just a summary of what I’m seeing in my studio, purely anecdotal.
Casual Recording Helps with Performance Anxiety
So, how does casual recording help? It makes the act of recording a no-big-deal, every day kind of thing. It makes you used to dealing with performance anxiety on a certain level each time you do it. That’s why I’ve been recommending my students to casually record themselves once a day to reduce their anxiety.
A regular recording might actually increase your anxiety because your body is thinking, “Ugh, another three hours to record one piece, and even then it won’t be perfect.” Can you feel the dread?
From my results, I’m going to start assigning casual recording for a month before a performance. I’ve seen how it has helped my students this winter. I know it will help them through the rest of their lives.
