You Want Me to WHAT???

Why is it, when someone asks us to perform our dulcimer for an audience that our mind goes into self-protection mode? We begin to conjure up excuses … “I’ll be out of town that week”, “I’m not good enough”, “I feel a cold coming on”, “I’m sorry but I already have other plans that day”, or “Oh no, I could never do that.”

Now let’s compare the reaction of a young child, let’s say between 6 and 9 years old, who is asked to play a tune for you. They’re excited. They can’t wait to take center stage and showcase the progress they’ve made. Afterwards, they may realize their playing wasn’t perfect, but they still have the biggest smile on their faces, proud of every note that came out. They’re confident that you’re going to tell them how wonderful they are.

Why can’t we be like these young children, ready to share our music at the drop of a hat? I think it’s usually our fear of being judged. Stepping out of our comfort zone to perform for others can be challenging. And I imagine most of us can relate to this conundrum.

Overcoming performance anxiety is a journey that takes practice but is totally possible. Start small, play for your dog. Then play for your family. Invite a neighbor over to hear you play. A couple of weeks ago, I invited our entire neighborhood of ladies to come over for ice cream and music. Only 12 were able to come, but we sure had fun. I found my nerves disappeared when the women started singing along. I knew they were having fun, so I forgot about trying to hit every string perfectly and started having fun too.

I want to encourage you to begin that journey of building your confidence to play in public. Nothing is more rewarding than sharing the gift of your music with others.

Happy dulcimering,
Linda