PERFORMANCE ANXIETY

The shadow that follows too many musicians

But it doesn’t have to follow you. If it’s getting in the way of your performing, let me help

Charlotte Tomlinson piano and performance coach

Most musicians know the feelings: the pounding heartbeat, the tight, restricted breathing, the shaky hands that play havoc when you most need them to be still, or the fear of blanking despite all the work you’ve done to prepare. Nerves can be manageable for some, but for others they can be crippling, casting a shadow over every performance you give.

Many musicians who come to me haven’t even discussed their performance nerves with friends or colleagues. It can feel so shameful and yet, it is so normal among musicians. Some might try beta-blockers but find they dull the very responsiveness that makes performing alive; others push through, doing their best to cope, and hoping it will get easier on its own.

With Charlotte I found someone who not only understood performance stress but had real solutions that worked!”

ANNA FERIOL

FRENCH HORN, SWEDISH RADIO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

The starting point is always understanding exactly what is happening when you perform: what the body is doing, what the mind is telling you, and where things start to go wrong. For most people there is a gap between how they play in their practice room and how they play in front of others. How you make that journey from the practice room to the stage is where the coaching begins.

The coaching is practical and specific to you. It might focus on breath and physical tension, on the things you tell yourself in the days before a concert, on how you prepare, or on what happens in the moment before you begin. Most people notice something shift within the first session.

“Having always been a very nervous performer, the concert I gave after working with Charlotte was the first time I felt that I was performing almost without nerves. I was able to play with a consciousness that I don’t think I have ever really experienced previously. Amazing!”

ANONYMOUS MUSICIAN

I work with students, amateurs and professionals. What matters is not your level but whether performing is getting in the way of the musician you know yourself to be.

Sessions

Sessions are an hour and held either online or in person. A single session can make a real difference, though most clients find that two to four sessions gives them the tools and strategies to make lasting progress. Everything is confidential.