Of all the many life lessons that learning to play music teaches, that is, how playing music improves your life, one of the most important is self-confidence. Athletes, successful business owners, doctors and lawyers—there’s no way they can be effective or accomplished without a great deal of confidence in themselves. The same is true for musicians.
Often young people who lack self-confidence gravitate to music as an escape. It’s something they can do on their own and it’s not competitive. And when you become proficient enough to perform, to share your music with other people, it can be scary. Nervousness is a common thread among early performers, and even remains with many performers throughout their professional careers. Overcoming nervousness requires musicians to have confidence in themselves, and the only way to build confidence is to perform—to join a band, to attend a jam session, to play or sing in front of an audience.
In college, when I first got up enough nerve to perform in a fall talent show, I received a standing ovation for my three-song medley. And while to this day I still get nervous before a performance, that first night, the decision to step out on stage and the reception from the audience, was a huge confidence builder. As I continued to perform, my confidence grew. And that is how music has improved my life.
Music teachers understand this dynamic well. From your early childhood recitals to the high school jazz band, they know it is imperative to play for people. They know you’ll be nervous, and they know that overcoming nervousness is an essential part of learning to play.
By Mike Shaw
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