The secretive world of how the Pros deal with Performance Anxiety 

I wish I could “like” this video a billion times. I couldn’t agree with you more. Long story short, I almost dropped out of grad school for piano performance because I’d screw up ALL my performances due to nerves. I’d practice for HOURS & HOURS, and my stuff sounded AMAZING in the practice rooms, but as soon as the nerves hit on stage, RIP to my performance. Anyway, I started BB, and it made a HUGE difference. I’m not claiming to be the “best pianist around”, but I know what I can do. In fact, I placed 4th in an international piano competion last year, and I NEVER would’ve been able to do that without BB. Just as you said, it’s doesn’t help with the mental battle of performing, but GOSH it does an AMAZING job with the physical-shaking hands, shallow breathing, racing heart. I’m still on a journey to prevent myself from mentally psyching myself out, but BBs help me TREMENDOUSLY. Since then, I’ve SUCCESSFULLY graduated with my masters in piano performance (:

Great video. Shame there's a stigma surrounding beta blockers among professional musicians. As an amateur without a ton of performance experience, propranolol works wonders to ease the physical symptoms of anxiety allowing the mind to focus on the music instead of spiraling. No more shaking, sweating, twitching. As you mentioned, it won't magically make you a better musician, and it doesn't replace practicing and preparing! Quick tip for viewers: allow at least 1-2 hours for the effect to peak from a beta blocker - timing is important, so experiment first in a controlled setting before a performance.

I was really surprised about you mentioning that people use beta blockers. Never even realized that this is a thing. I have never ever considered using them. Confidence in my playing has always been my way of getting through a performance and also I totally love performing so I am not really bothered with excessive nervousness. Thank you for putting this video on here. Very educational.

Absolutely positive and realistic advice for professional performance. There is help and it should be a realistic option for anyone who suffers from the debilitating condition of anxiety. Brava Julia and thank you for your candor.

I had NO idea about this! I completely stopped performing because I had such horrible performance anxiety! Even changed my major. Performance anxiety is no joke. 😢 Wish I'd known about this sooner. Thanks for this information.

You explained this phenomenon the best I’ve heard. I do weddings and use beta blockers beforehand

Thank you for this video!!! I’m sure many young musicians will benefit. I suffered with performance anxiety since high school. A very bad case. Trembling hands and lips making it almost impossible to perform. I was ready to quit. This was back in the early 80s. We were still in the Stone Age on phobias and anxiety. Even band rehearsal was a nightmare. I finally fessed up to the problem and told my parents and band director. Band director referred me to school psychologist who was clueless. Parents sent me to a private psychologist who was clueless. Talk therapy is useless. The only book on the subject had similar strategy’s s you mentioned. Imagine the audience is in their underwear etc…. More useless. Fortunately I had a deep curiosity in depth and behavioral psychology and it would take me on a journey to find the solution well after college. The first strategy was learning about self hypnosis. I made my own self hypnosis scripts. Recorded them, and would listen to it throughout the day. “I’m relaxed and confident when I perform “ and other affirmations. After about a month, I was able to play without any anxiety or self medicating. I also did yoga breathing. Great!!! But slowly the anxiety came back when I stopped listening to the tapes. I found something that worked but had more research to do. I learned was that I was reconditioning my subconscious belief system but what I had to do was find the limiting programs and release before I reprogrammed. Enter the new field of Energy Psychology. EFT (emotional freedom technique). TAT Tapas Acupressure Technique and others. Basically these techniques are very simple that tap into the energy circuits of the body that go into fight or flight when your unconscious feels a threat and changes the body’s reaction to the external circumstance triggering the phobia. Depending on the severity of the phobia, will decide how long the treatment will take. Simple phobias can be rid in one or two sessions. More complex phobia requires somebody guiding you through the time track to the past and finding the originating trauma that created the anxiety. Anybody can take a class in both of these techniques. Tons of information online. It can be self applied. I both trained in these modalities AND went to others who were trained to walk me through the process. Many sports psychologist use these techniques. One of the more famous examples you can look up is Maggie Sasser of the New York Mets whose anxiety caused him to have the yip’s. He could not throw the ball. Golfers suffer from this too. There are many applications beyond your performance anxiety. While I trained with MDs and psychologists, it’s still not widely known in medical circles although more and more professionals are using it in their practice. So there is a way out that permanently resolves the anxiety with out beta blockers which by all means can be used until a permanent solution is achieved. You ll also learn more about yourself than you ever imagined.

Very informative video on a topic that needs more attention in my opinion! I will be trying Atenolol for the first time soon... I've always had a battle with shaky hands in solo and duet performances and I'm hoping that this will allow me to forget the nerves and focus on playing.

Thanks for useful video! Im amateur pianist who has struggled with nerves before playing, Ad only recently discovered a Natural alternative to beta blockers, ad that's Valerian, a natural herb that relax the nervous system, need to use in quite a high dose for it to b effective! There's still a stigma on mental issues even in these days! Still got along way to go! Accept that one's will always b nervous, ad practice performing as much as possible! Cheers!

Appreciate your honesty

Hello,my comment will be a little bit long,but please read it, thanks! I always shake at the beginning of my performance, it's very noticeable( I play viola and my right hand is shaking so bad, i can't control my bow).But after about 20 bars(which is a lot, You'll agree) or when I start to play my second piece,I calm down,heartbeat and breathing become calmer.But the beginning...it's the worst nightmare.I decided to try beta blocker, propranolol, because I have graduating exams in a few days and then also exams for admitting conservatory, so I should feel confident and relaxed. In my country there is no 10 mg or 20 mg,only 40 mg, which I think is a lot for me, because I've never take it before and maybe it will be overdose for me and it will get even worse. At the moment I can't consult a doctor,but I really need beta blocker!! I also understand that You are not a doctor, but maybe You can advise me what to do.I've tried everything(breathing exercises, think in a positive way, playing only for yourself etc. and nothing help me)

I just got today a script for propanilol 10mg. I took a 4th of a pill then another 1/4th...so 5 mg of it....and that tiny amount reduced my adrenaline before going to deal with something. Pretty low dose 5mg...they said take 10 mg but i am afraid id be asleep

Thank you so much for sharing your experiences. I was wondering how the betablockers effect your emotional and creative experience in the moment of playing the music? Is it still possible to get into the creative zone of music or do you more perform from a technical point of view? I mean are you still connected to your feelings?