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Congratulations on your growth in just a year of playing! That is quite remarkable. I’m at about 20 months and haven’t mastered any full songs, can’t maintain smooth playing for more than a fraction of a minute in the best of circumstances.
Performance anxiety happens to most people. Only a small percentage of mankind doesn’t have this experience. Many have overcome the fear, but still say they have to do it over and over, night after night.
My playing degrades about 30% just by turning the camera on, which is very foolish since nobody will see the video unless I want them to.
Jim Morrison (The Doors) was so nervous when they started performing he would not face the audience. Donald Fagen (Steely Dan) was so averse to performing that they didn’t tour for many years and became primarily a studio band, cherry-picking the best session musicians in the world to contribute to his work.
I’ve been trying to overcome my anxiety by just bringing out the guitar and noodling while sitting next to my wife on the couch and it does seem to have gotten slightly better. Lastly I want to say that you at barely 50 years if age, are young! I started at 64 but I still plan to get proficient enough to perform at church and around the campfire.
https://hellomusictheory.com/learn/famous-musicians-with-stage-fright/
hellomusictheory.com
15 Famous Musicians Who Suffered From Stage Fright
In this article, we’ll share with you the stories of 15 famous musicians with stage fright, and how they handle their predicament!Â