Defeating Live Performance Nerves
Nerves Buster is a confidence-building programme and performance opportunity for anyone nervous about getting up on stage or joining a band. The conclusion to the sessions is a real live performance with other musicians. You can do it!
Due to the ongoing situation with the Coronavirus pandemic, the Nerves Buster courses, jam sessions and other types of group workshops are being run as virtual events, using online technology.
We will get 'real life' in-person workshops and events running again as soon as it is possible and safe to do so. In the meantime, Drum Pass members have been exploring, connecting, and collaborating online instead of the in-person events that we would usually be running.
The Nerves-Buster Sessions
Due to the very individual nature of this programme, each session in the series is uniquely adapted and modified to reflect the individual needs of the participants.
Stage fright and performance anxiety in musicians is often linked to a "vicious circle" or feedback loop caused by putting off performing until you feel you are "good enough" at the instrument to perform with or in front of other people.
However, the more you practice and improve when you are playing on your own or in one-to-one lessons, the more the anxiety towards performing in front of other people can grow.
It becomes a paradox where the more confident and in control of your instrument you get, it can trigger anxiety towards playing and performing in a public setting.
Nerves Buster helps you to break out of the constraints that are holding you back from playing in a band or getting up on stage.
How it works:
The aim of the Nerves Buster programme is to defeat performance nerves, not by eliminating them entirely, but by learning to turn them to your advantage.
Some performance nerves are in fact very helpful. They can sharpen your focus, increase the level of excitement and energy, and heighten the emotion of your performance.
The exact programme is tailored to each group of participants, based on the circumstances, needs and aims of that specific group of people.
To match each participant with a small group of other people for the Nerves Buster sessions to work, please provide as much information as possible about your current situation, previous experience and aims for what you want to be able to achieve.
The first step is to register your interest in joining a future session. When you get in touch please also let us know whether you would prefer to take part online or in-person. We are currently running both online and in-person workshops, or it can also be done in a hybrid format involving online and in-person aspects.
Preliminary one-to-one sessions are also available prior to joining a small group of other participants.
If you are new to Elephant Drums and want to join us, simply get started with a Taster Lesson, and after the Taster sign up for the Drum Pass. For updates about the status of in-person lessons and activities, please read our Covid-19 Updates for the latest on drum lessons whilst restrictions are in place.