Fake performance can be done in many different ways, and it’s vital for during the last few weeks before an actual performance. It helps you learn how to keep going despite mistakes and it helps get your jitters out before the performance.
Simple Definition of a Fake Performance
The simple definition of a fake performance it to play through a piece without stopping. This is so hard! We want to go back and fix the mistake. It’s a knee-jerk reaction, but try to fight it.
Play your mistake as if you meant to do it by extending the length of the wrong note, rather than changing it right away. For example, if the note is supposed to be a half note, then hold your wrong note for a whole beat before correcting it. If it’s a sixteenth note, hold the incorrect note for the entire time of a sixteenth, then move on to the next note.
If your mistake was an incorrect rhythm, just make sure that the number of beats equal the correct amount for the measure and move on. You get the idea. No one needs to know that there was an actual mistake.
Different Ideas for a Fake Performance
As I said before, there are several ways to do a fake performance. Here are several ideas. Each fake perfomance style increases the nervousness, which helps you get ready for being nervous for the stage.
Toys
I don’t care how old or young you are, perform for a stuffed animal or a doll. It will help you because you’ll see their eyes staring at you out of the corner of your eye. Toys are generally non-judgemental, from what I’ve noticed. 😉
Metronome
I know I didn’t mention it here, but I personally get a little nervous with the metronome. This helps with the gradual increase of nervousness that I try to build up before a performance.
The metronome forces me to not stop. I just own my mistake by playing it for the length of the note that I was supposed to play, then move on to the next note that I’m supposed to play. This is really hard. If you’re having a hard time doing that, try holding your mistake for twice as long as the note you were supposed to play – this gives you time to think.
Record Yourself
Recording yourself creates nervousness. Creating a sound recording makes me less nervous than a video, but you might be different. I’m not saying that you should do anything with the recording unless you want to, I’m just saying that creating a recording helps a lot.
Play for One or Two People
I am a very non-judgemental person, so those are the kind of friends that I have. I have been known to play for a friend and have them pretend to be judgemental, all the way down to the looks on their faces. It really helps me get the jitters out ahead of time.
Play in a (Somewhat) Public Place
Play your wind instrument outside. It’s not necessarily around other people, but someone could come along.
Play with your windows open. People might be walking past your house, they might not. You don’t know.
You can go to any public piano and start playing. No one will stop you (unless there’s a pandemic). No one might be there, but someone could walk by.
Ideas for public pianos? Movie theaters, nursing homes, churches, shopping malls, just keep your eyes open. You’ll see them. As I said before, don’t do this during the social distancing thing.
Conclusion
As you can see, the ideas for fake performance get harder and harder. This is on purpose. The whole purpose for fake performance is to practice performing. This way the real performance goes off without a hitch. Or maybe less hitches.