As an active artist in the field of classical music, you certainly have many concerts to perform, and even though you may believe that individual practice is the only element to consider when performing in a concert, we would like to disagree. Yes, practice is important to present a quality repertoire, and you must work hard to ensure everything is perfect. However, there are other aspects to consider in order to be prepared for a concert.

Let’s assume you have reached the desired level or even perfection in your interpretation. But how do you manage to be the same on stage as you are in the practice room? Psychological preparation is an increasingly important element for artists today, not only for those who perform classical music. So, when you step on stage, your level of psychological preparation for that particular concert should receive as much attention as individual practice. Why? The answer is quite simple. Being very relaxed because you have mastered the performance in the practice room, a simple loud sneeze in the concert hall can affect you, as you were not prepared for that sneeze or the audience’s reaction, which may no longer be attentive to you.

In the scenario presented earlier, the lack of psychological preparation for that concert can distract you, leading to mistakes in your repertoire, and even worse, your morale may be seriously affected by what happens in the hall. This is how a simple sneeze can trigger a chain of unfortunate events that affect your personal image and mental state.

For this reason, we insist that for every concert, you allocate significant importance to psychological preparation before the performance. This preparation should be personalized for each artist. Probably the most important step when you begin this preparation is a personal analysis that you should conduct as objectively as possible. First and foremost, you need to identify what can affect you during a concert, trying to anticipate potential problems and control your reactions to them.

Even though it may sound a bit unusual, identify what phobias you might have! People in general, including artists, can have various phobias in their personal or even professional lives. Classical music performers are not exempt from this issue, so the most important thing is to know what you are most afraid of. Whether it’s a fear of spiders or confined spaces, these fears should not affect your performance, and to achieve that, you must be aware of them and try to address them.

If you cannot overcome these issues on your own, you can seek help from a specialist, specifically a psychologist or a mental coach. Assistance from a specialist can often make a significant difference in concert preparation. Even though we tend to believe that artists are accustomed to performing in front of large audiences, things are not always that simple. Many artists, especially young ones, may have difficulties when performing a piece in front of a large audience, and emotional blockages can occur. In this situation, you should consider that this issue could jeopardize your career if you don’t seek professional help. Don’t assume that this will resolve itself with age or with more experience. On the contrary, these problems can escalate dramatically, especially if they also have negative effects on your performance. So, do not hesitate to seek the opinion and guidance of a specialist if you have emotional issues of this nature.

If you believe you do not have major problems, your main challenge in concert preparation will be maintaining concentration. In this case, you may not necessarily need specialized help, as you can improve your concentration through exercises or simulations of situations that are meant to disrupt your focus. Do not isolate yourself in the practice room; try presenting your repertoire to people close to you who can intentionally do things to distract you. This type of simulation can be very effective when preparing for a concert because it shows you what distracts you and prepares you to manage these distractions.

Take into account the advice presented in this article, and you will surely have concerts without unwanted events.