Keeping Your Nerve!: Book

Honest and reassuring without sugar-coating. The anecdotes remind readers that even seasoned musicians experience stage fright, while the practical advice gives concrete strategies for the hours before and after a performance.

Any student facing performance anxiety, whether preparing for an exam, recital, or competition. Teachers and parents will find it equally valuable as a conversation starter with young musicians struggling with nerves, and as a tool to normalize the experience of pre-performance jitters across your studio or ensemble.

• Read a relevant anecdote or tip the morning of a performance to anchor yourself in the reality that nervousness is universal among musicians
• Assign this to students preparing for juries or recitals several weeks in advance so they can absorb the advice gradually rather than in panic mode
• Share specific sections with parents who are understandably anxious about their child's performance, shifting family dynamics around support
• Keep a copy in your studio and reference it during lessons when a student expresses worry about an upcoming solo or audition

Give this to students before major performance events—festivals, competitions, juries, or final recitals. It works especially well in studio settings or one-on-one lessons as a take-home resource. For ensemble directors, it pairs well with performance preparation units or as supplementary reading when you notice anxiety affecting rehearsal focus or concert readiness.

• Recognizing physical symptoms of performance anxiety and responding to them
• Developing mental strategies for pre-performance preparation
• Understanding the relationship between performer and audience
• Building resilience and self-compassion around performance outcomes