Any classical singers still screw up royally when performing???!
Question: I came in an entire measure early today. I recovered but I feel like a jerk. How on earth do you get over it???
Answers: I came in an entire measure early today. I recovered but I feel like a jerk. How on earth do you get over it???
Not just singers.
Years ago I was asked to play 1st Horn in a concert. I didn't know the orchestra, so it was my first time. I had been ill and wanted to help them so they would know me and remember me. The program was full of romantic pieces with little and bigger French Horn solo's.
At the time of the concert, I had a historical bad embouchure, almost every solo went wrong or simply not good. To go short, I was glad with every note they I played correctly.
To make thinks worse, I started to get nervous after the first solo I blew.
Guess what? They remembered me and never asked me again.
Last year, I had to conduct a concert. Pictures of an exhibition, arranged for chamber orchestra. Guess what? The French Horn player didn't have his day and played just like I did years ago. This was a professional orchestra with very experienced musicians. So even with them it happens.
Don't be to harsh with yourself and learn from it. Your next concert will be much better.
Oh, I beat myself up for days upon days when I mess up. My choir performed The Shepherd's Farewell by Berlioz about two weeks ago, and I came in about a beat and a half two early at this really intense moment (I guess I must have zoned out or gotten confused by the conductor's movements). Man, I was so embarrassed.
Welcome to the club. And I assure you, it isn't an exclusive one.
With me, it just takes time: sometimes, a LOT of time. Don't feel too badly; after all, you're only human like the rest of us: and I to date, have as yet to meet my first "perfect" human being.
Cheers,
Wotan
P.S.- If you want the laugh of your life, and hear the GREATEST "screw up" of all time, check out the old recordings by: "Florence Foster Jenkins". The funniest thing of all, is that she was serious; and really either was not aware of her incredulity as an opera singer, or just didn't care. I'm not sure which; but regardless, she will leave you literally rolling in the aisle.
that's part of being human- we make mistakes.
Before recording (BR) was invented, I'll bet they made just as many, only they weren't heard. AR we got spoiled, because only "live" recordings would ever show any mistakes.
Just keep studying the music, and if you are in doubt, make a point to ask the director before show time. The better prepared you are, the less it will happen.
However, my chamber chorus director at UCLA once told the 22 of us, " If you are going to make a mistake, please make it a big one. I don't like things done by halves. Make it as if you believe you're right, and the rest of us wrong:"
That, and tone of voice he said it in, have stuck with me for over 30 years!
If you need to keep a mistake tally, better be sure and keep a rescue tally as well- the places where your musicianship helped save the situation. Otherwise you'll turn out lop-sided. There's enough blame in the world, balance it out with some praise.
You just learn from mistakes. That's what makes you better from the rest. No one is perfect. You recovered, that is talent in itself.
Just know that it happens to everyone, at one time or another.