Performance Review

This is the recording of Come What May:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0QaXuXWMdw&list=PLUwncSquNfWySAUHJD2nVa6njPIDGzg9L&index=5

Evaluation:
- Strengths of the performance- What were you pleased with? Why?
I was happy that I remembered all my words. It takes me a while to learn lines and because I was nervous, I was scared that I would forget the lyrics. I was also happy that I was able to remember when the song changed for low to high, as i normally have to read the music when practising the song, as I forget what I am doing. I was also pleased that i managed to get through the whole song without messing up.

- Weakness of the performance- What could have been improved? Why?
I think I needed to show more emotion when singing. This couldn't be seen as I was looking at the floor the whole time.  I need to connect with the song more, so the audience believe what I am singing. I also need to practise my breathing more, so I am able to take a big breath before reaching the high notes. I need to feel more confident when singing the song, because otherwise it could effect my performance, as I keep thinking about the high notes that are coming up.

- Link to your practise routine- Did your practise routine leading up to the performance prepare you effectively? If not, why?
When i practise I find it really easy, however as soon as I perform it infront of anyone I panic, as i worry to much about what people think. To improve this i need to perform the song in front of people more regularly so i feel more confident with people hearing the song. I need to do more warm up vocal exercises so it is easier for me to reach the high notes without worrying about it. I need to start thinking more that i can do it instead of doubting myself.

- What have you learnt from the experience and what will you change about your practise routine to develop further?
Next time i perform, i will try and show more emotion in the song. When i spoke to people this is what they said i needed to do, because they didn't believe my performance. In my practise routine i will do more higher vocal exercises to make me more comfortable with the high notes. I need to do more breathing exercises so i don't run out off breath when singing.

This is my first recording of come what may. I don't have any confidence with the song at the moment. I don't like the way I sound when singing it. I'm worrying about the high notes, so I need to work on this in my next practise session. I'm scared too many people will think it sounds rubbish when I perform it. If I get a note wrong, it will mess up my performance and will keep getting things wrong. This is the song I am most worried about. I also need to work more with the accompanist as there is timing issues. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fo4WsMPdxM

A particular feature of anxiety or fear is that it ' feeds off itself' and becomes stronger even though the situation or task hasn't changed. Before any performance your body will almost always produce adrenalin. The natural way that your body prepares you for a challenging event( even a pleasurable one) includes many of the symptoms that remind you of fear. Stage fright is actually a good thing and if understood and controlled can enhance your performance!

There are some ways to try and think of stage fright in a positive way. Adrenalin is your friend.
- It makes your reflexes sharper.
- It heightens your level of awareness
- It gives you extra energy.
- It adds an excitement to your performance

When you are nervous about performing you are more conscious of your posture and breathing as well as instrumental techniques.

Performance anxiety never goes away instead as performers we simply get better at controlling these feelings which makes it seem that we are less afraid. I must concentrate on developing strategies to control the nerves as best as I can so they enhance not diminish my performance.

Strategies to help control nerves:
- Be prepared; practise, practise and practise
- Practise with people listening; family, friends
- Take a long deep breath and hold it for 5 seconds and repeat. This will help me to focus my breathing and control heart rate.
- Think of all the success I've had performing
- Develop a warm up routine that will focus my mind before playing.

However i need to make sure I don't hold my breath too long otherwise this will happen:

I am slowly working on my stage fright. I have performing for a long time, so I can now control my nerves. I used to be very nervous on stage and would stand there shaking. However now I am able to relax and perform confidently. It makes me more nervous when my family and close friends watch me perform, as I know there opinion matters. to overcome this I need to perform more in front of people who I am close to, so I can learn that I can perform no matter what they think. I need to have more confidence with myself so I can be confident on stage. I need to stop doubting myself, as it effects my performance. It also ruins the mood off people around me, as they end up doubting themselves as well where I am worrying so much. 

Performance Anxiety & Stage Fright

The term "stage fright" refers to the apprehension an artist feels about approaching the stage to perform; even though they are doing what they love. Performance anxiety is a natural part of performance. it can be broken down into three responses: mental, behavioural and physiological.

Mental responses are those which involve the thinking processes and can't be seen or felt by anyone else but the artist. Symptoms include:
- Negative thoughts
- Thoughts about failure
- Distraction; loss of concentration
- Feelings of helplessness
- Memory blanks
- Panic





Behavioural responses are those that involve actions and can be seen by others. Symptoms include:
- Tension; not able to relax
- Agitation; quickly becoming angry or snappy with others
- Coughing or clearing your throat
- Nervous laughter or constant talking










Physiological responses involve physical changes to the body. Symptoms include:
- Increased heart rate
- Shaking of various parts of the body i.e Hands, lips, knees and legs
- Sweating
- Tight throat
- Hot or cold flushes
- Dry mouth
- ' Butterflies' in the stomach
- Desire to go frequently to the toilet
- Increased breathing/shallow breathing
- Adrenalin rush





When I perform, I get very nervous. I doubt myself a lot anyway however when I am about to perform, I do this even more. The amount I doubt myself isn't good for my performances, as I know in the past doubting myself, has ruined my performance on several occasions. I always get butterflies in my tummy. I also bite my nails when I'm nervous, which isn't good for when I am about to sing, incase a bit of nail gets caught in my throat, which then effects the way I sing. I go very quiet and don' talk to anyone. I usually drink too much, because then I end up needing a wee, just before I have to go on stage. I don't normally shake before hand, however once I have performed and come off stage I am shaking, which is probably the adrenalin rush.

Here is an example of vocal exercises which I recorded during a choir rehearsal. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlGN7_8wcv8

Intonation, in music, is a musician's realization of pitch accuracy, or the pitch accuracy of a musical instrument. Intonation may be flat, sharp, or both, successively or simultaneously.  The vocal warm up, would help me reach the right pitch accurately. If I slowly build up the key getting higher each time this would improve my intonation. It would also allow me to work on my voice placement, as i practise warm up's changing my head voice from head to chest will become easier for me to do. Warm up exercises such as this one will also help me to improve my vocal range. The more i practise doing scales, getting higher every time, the more my vocal range will improve, which will make me more confident when I perform. Doing vocal exercises will also allow me to work on my posture. This is because I need to stand up straight, so the sound can come out freely and i won't have to force it out, if I didn't have good posture. Having good posture allows my diaphragm to expand fully so I am able to sing long notes without trouble.  I can also use vocal exercises to improve my breath control by slowly holding on notes for longer each time. This allows me to know when i need to take a breath but also allows me to learn how to support myself when singing a long note.

Here are some videos that I have found which will help me to improve my vocal range. 

This is the first recording I have done of What Doesn't Kill You. I am singing along to the track wit the words up on screen. I need to work on my tuning, and as you will see there is a point which I don't know what I am doing, so I will need to work on this part.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHThJavOut8