Psychological Aspects on Performance

ASPECTS OF PERFORMANCE

In the following report I will focus on two factors of performance, they are

 PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS ON PERFORMANCE

Nerves / stress, including manifestations

Relationships between members

Communication with audience

Audience response

 THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SUCCESSFUL GROUP

Choice of members

Program selection

Rehearsal strategies

Setting up

Venue / audience

Final performance

Each of these aspects effects performers and to deal with all these things will ensure a successful group who do their jobs well and love doing it.

 DESCRIPTION OF OUR BAND

I am a part of an eight, member band, who at one time or another have been playing together for five years. The first three years I performed with four of the eight members in a class and an all girls band, this year I have reunited with them again and four other members as a new group. Our band consists of three lead vocalists. Our ranges are all fairly large and quite different, giving good variety in voices for a range of different styles of music. Our ranges are Db3 - Gb5 (break at C5), Gb3 - C6 (break at Bb4) and E3 - B5 (break at Gb4). We have one lead guitarist, two rhythm guitarists, (one who is in year 11 and the other is our music teacher), a bass player, and a drummer, (who is also in year 11). We are a covers group and like to experiment with all types of styles, pop, rock, disco, alternative / grunge, reggae, soul, jazz, RNB, blues and some international pieces from various countries like Greek, Spanish, Latin American and French. We rehears five times a week, three periods of class time and two lunch times. As a group we believe that practice makes perfect. We expect each member to rehears solo parts at home and to have private tuition for extra help. We all love to perform and do it as often as possible, our gigs range from school fetes, festivals, concerts and speech nights to an interstate tour to different schools every year.

ASPECT 1

 PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS ON PERFORMANCE

Every performer, no matter how long they've been in the business will be effected by psychological setbacks. These effects can cause major upsets to the level of a performer's performance, so something must be done to control these feelings. All performers have different techniques to cope with these symptoms, and in this next section I will provide some of these.

 NERVES STRESS BEFORE AND DURING PERFORMANCE

 PHISICAL MANIFESTATIONS

Needing to go to the toilet

This is a common feeling one gets right before a performance

Butterflies

When nerves set in an empty feeling occurs in your stomach, this some times makes you feel, what is called Butterflies, or worse still nausea.

Sweating perspiration

You can experience hot flushes with nerves and as a result you perspire. This can effect your performance, especially when playing an instrument and can make both singers and instrument players feel self conscious in front of an audience.

Shaking

This can really letdown your performance, having shaky hands can interferes with your playing and a shaky voice can ruin a song.

Anxiety

Performers can experience anxiety attacks prior to appearing on stage. This can cause hyperventilation, and an increase in heart rate.

Dry mouth

This can effect a singer's voices, making it sound scratchy. It also can damage vocal chords if they are not well lubricated.

Memory lapses

Your mind can go blank and words of songs and music is forgotten.

 SOLUTIONS

Needing to go to the toilet

Going to the toilet just before performing is a good idea, usually this symptom goes away when you start.

Butterflies

A simple way to combat this problem is to take several deep breaths prior to performance.

Sweat perspiration

Bringing a small face towel to wipe your hands or forehead on is advisable. Wearing deodorant to cover unpleasant smells is beneficial for your own self of steam and for others.

Shaking

Deep breathing is essential for most nervous conditions. Relaxation techniques are advisable any time before performance, Yoga, meditation, thinking positive etc.