| Bear,
Examine the way you stand when you perform. Nervousness is only a problem when the muscles start fighting for the right to hold you up. If you are in a position where the muscles are antagonizing each other AND you become nervous, you get into trouble. If you stand in a position where you body is resting on its frame, the skeleton, you are in better shape even if you get a little nervous.
Let's pretend a bit and use extremes to illustrate the point. If you stand with your heels together and toes apart and your elbows close to your ribs you place your legs and thighs in a position where they're going to fight to keep you up. Your elbows are also in the way of your chest expanding so, you're going to take shallower breaths than when you where in your practice room or wherever.
These things cause tension that you don't notice when you're calm but when you're nervous, watch out! If you have any access to a good Alexander method teacher who teaches musicians, by all means, avail your self of the knowledge a good Alexander expert has to share. Also, check out what Dave Monette has to say about body use, its amazing. I think it's hard to grasp it from a book or website, though. You said you might be coming to Minnesota this summer, right? If I'm remembering that correctly, we'll do a body use thing and I'll show you what I've learned from Jacobs, Alexander teachers, and Dave. It makes a huge difference.
ML |