Performing is an important part of any musician’s growth, but it can be nerve-wracking. Here are a few tips on how to prepare for a guitar performance: There are a few things you can do to prepare for a guitar performance:
Practice your pieces until you know them inside out.
It looks like it is common sense to practice your pieces and know them well prior to the performance. But that is just a necessary preposition. The most important indeed, for a performance of any kind. You should know your pieces at least one month before the day of your concert or gig. Everything that follows in this article will work only if you know your music very well and in advance. This way, you’ll be able to focus on your performance rather than worrying about making mistakes.
Visualize yourself playing guitar flawlessly in front of an audience
You should always practice with the same intensity as if you were performing in front of an audience. This will help you to improve your skills and also keep your motivation high. Practice as if you were performing for an audience, whether it be an imaginary one or a live one. You should always end your practice session with a concert because this will help to improve your skills and keep motivation high. An audience to your concert can be imaginary, as in the one you imagine waltzing down the stairs of your home each time you renew practice. If ever feel discouraged because it seems you’re some time away from achieving your perfect performance. Remind yourself that this isn’t your goal.
Bringing variety
In every hour or so-long session at the end of that particular practice session, create an imaginary concert in your house by really visualizing this happening. Start out with a set list and work on it consecutively and try not to get mixed up about details about attire for this “concert”. Remember, the goal is to make each clear shot stand out enough for your “audience”. The duration and intensity of your practice must be proportional and commensurate to the end goal you are pursuing. One of the most important takeaways is we always have to stop while our session is still successful. Each practice session should be diversified enough with different scales1, technical exercises, studies, etc.
Check out this online course Motivate Yourself to Practice Guitar
Imaginary practice
Try and picture it. You know what is going to happen. You’re going to step up on the stage with the guitar like you’ve shown a million times before. The only difference this time is that you are actually doing it for real in front of a live audience. This technique is called Imaginary Practice. To use imaginary practice, all you need to do is devote at least ten minutes of your time every day to lucidity and accuracy.
When playing an instrument that you are learning or trying to master by giving it fantasies or concerts in your house. Dressings as if they were reality rehearsals for big events beforehand until after 10-20 sessions virtually ahead of any live performance, would be very little nervousness in-stadium control. Visualize yourself playing guitar effortlessly in front of your audience. That is the best way to create the perfect music session. Make it a habit before the practice and you’ll do better each time.
Warm-up before you play.
Practicing a sport without a warm-up is extremely dangerous. To make the risk practically nil you should start the session by warming up. If a person knows that they have to play an important concert soon and they just think it will be ok to skip the warm-up. Then they might want to rethink their decision.
Many athletes and music enthusiasts know that it is necessary to do warm-ups before any performance. Even after sitting down or standing in one place for a while. For most people, lasting ten minutes or so before jumping into training (or practice!). It gives enough time for the muscles of your body, joints, and especially your heart to prepare themselves for strenuous activity and workout!
Luckily you don’t need to do much.
Just preparing your fingers and yourself can help you to improve your performance. Human beings should not only focus on their long and impeccable performance but should also pay attention to their well-being. A nice warm-up before playing can help. And that doesn’t mean that you should rush it or expend a lot of energy. One thing people think about their own guitar is the strings that it has. Everyone is aware of its use to create music. No one nature in its role as a device to help prevent injuries that can become accidents on stage.
The guitars don’t just have air inside them
They are fitted with a piece of silver wire wound with round-shaped pieces of nylon wire called the strings. Strings can bend and coil-over time due to being tangled. Strummed against something hard, or dropped! Protect your fingers from injury by warming up before a performance.
Getting rid of tension and tightness
in muscles is crucial! It should be practiced just like any other skill! You do not want to cause complications because your body was tight and stiff when you tried playing the guitar. Some benefits would include increased flexibility and stamina. That’s something someone needs, who wants to do a concert at their best capacity. So warming up before playing is a must if you want to prevent injuries and be the best performer for your audience.
Focus on gaining temperature and making sure muscles are properly warmed up. Do that before playing any piece that is physically demanding. This can be done in the following ways: stretching, taking up and down notes and using scales or finger exercises. This will help to prevent injuries and help you to play your best.
Take care of your physical and mental health leading up to the performance.
One of the major responsibilities of guitar performers is to take care of themselves physically and mentally. Their physical health plays a significant factor in their mental state, and vice versa. With that said, there are plenty of ways guitar performers can make sure they’re feeling as well-rested and healthy as possible beforehand, to ensure an enjoyable performance experience.
To some this might seem like common sense advice—eat plenty of fruits and vegetables and get plenty of sleep, but these tips have further implications than just that. For starters, healthy foods foraged off the ground or picked from the trees may not be processed or heated. Means, you could feel less weighed down before a show. Secondly, fatigue is statistically proven to be one of the strongest factors in whether people play their best. Thereby impacting how well their audience reacts.
Rest well, and eat healthily before your performance
Whenever you have a performance, it is important to have consideration for a few factors leading up to the event. One factor is getting enough rest and eating healthy foods so you can feel your best. Another is calming your nerves before up on stage. This can be done by breathing deeply and slowly to help you focus. The American Association of Music Therapy suggests that music therapy, or the act of playing instruments, can help with physical and emotional well-being.
Healthy body – healthy mind
Most people know that taking care of your mental health and eating healthfully are essential for you to feel your best. But a lot of people don’t realize that caring for your physical health as well can impact you mentally as well. Caring for both your mental and physical health is essential before a performance. Things like sleep, good nutrition, breathing exercises, and plenty of stretching can help you feel prepared for whatever is coming up! The guitar performance can be a mentally and physically taxing experience for people who are not prepared for it. It’s important to practice healthy habits leading up to the guitar performance, so you will be at your best when you perform.
Get to the performance venue early so you can relax and get in the zone.
Allow yourself plenty of time to set up and make sure you’re comfortable. When you arrive at the venue early, you will feel less stressed because it will give you time to prepare for the show. You should bring a change of clothes and some basic toiletries with you in order to be able to freshen up when you arrive. Furthermore, if your set-up is within walking distance then it’s great karma because it saves both time and money. Being timely is good for any kind of event, not just music. Waiting until the last minute to prepare for a performance can cause stress and anxiety for musicians. It is not uncommon for venues to have low expectations, but this should not be the case!
Before their performance, many guitarists grind their teeth. They play through the stress in a room containing more people than they first expected and after playing a few tunes, they find that their less-skilled guitarist friends are eagerly watching what they’re going to do next. One of the most psychologically confusing music situations actually starts before you even get out of your car: it comes before you step foot onto the venue property.
Arriving too late at the performance venue is always aggravating.
Your spouse won’t have time to give you one last look in the eyes. Your teachers and colleagues won’t be ready to help you improve as a musician when you fine-tune your song with them.
In an ideal world, we would all come one hour early, play some first tunes before we perform with our band or orchestra, and then tune up for the event backstage. Not only would this benefits artists but it would also leave witnesses much more impressed. After all, when we perform better than our best or exceed what people expect out of us, it’s always worth the extra weight, wasn’t it?
It is absolutely essential to be well-rested and at ease when it’s time to perform. It can take a lot of mental acuities to think on your feet and make quick decisions but not if you prep ahead of time. You’ll be able to focus better resulting in a more successful performance. Arriving early will also increase the odds of things going smoothly, provide good social opportunities with other people who might have arrived early, and give energy enough time to get ready for the event. Being able to move about as you please and not feeling laced into your seat will also improve your mood both before and during the event.
Stay positive and confident, and trust in your abilities.
Stay positive and confident, and trust in your abilities. Believe in yourself and your ability to perform well. What sustains self-confidence and reduces stress could come from factors like an individual’s perception of his or her own estimates of their competitive advantages, perseverance during difficult moments, or a person’s body language (i.e., nonverbal signals in response to a difficulty), among other things that are heavily mediated by the brain’s neurotransmitters (which stimulates neurotransmitters related to feelings of happiness and tranquility). One significant takeaway is that staying positive even if you don’t feel like it is not just about being happy; it also creates happiness and reduces stress.
Music is an integral part of our life. When we are low, listening to music encourages us and the sound of a guitar gives strength to our minds. As it is evident from the examples below, most musicians have suffered some or the other kind of mental problems while they were in their music career. This can strongly discourage beginners or professionals in the field. Not only with regard to doubts about their skills but also panic attacks when they imagine what could happen if they try to perform on a stage.
Few key things for your future performance
When it comes to playing guitar in front of an audience, overcoming fear is one of the key things to do. The more and better you perform your talent, the less preoccupied you will be with your thoughts and worries.
1. Firstly, stay positive and confident when you go on stage with a guitar-pick song; next, train your body to trust your ability. This can be done by yourself or through practice sessions in collaborating with other musicians for feedback.
2. Give yourself time to prepare for anything that might come up on stage- usually picked up from past experiences to prevent any surprises or any out-of-this-world surprises from happening again during a performance without warning. Have a healthy dose of humor ready.
3. Practice regularly before going on stage for any performance this is the most important one. It will help you know your body better, and it also helps you have a smoother performance.
4. Know what is about to happen during your performance so that you can move fluidly. Also, you need to know what the next step in the dance is going to be, or at least have an idea of what it might be!
Have Fun!
Remember that performing is supposed to be enjoyable. Try to relax and enjoy the experience. By following these tips, you can help to ensure that you have a successful guitar performance.