Essential Items for Your Music Bag

What to be a model student? Here is a list of some essential items for your music bag:

• Pencil/eraser - Never be without a pencil, you don't want to repeatedly forget an accidental or miss a cut in the music.
• Tuner - It is especially important to be in tune if you're playing within an orchestra. The picture below shows the Trevor James Clip on tuner, read a review here. This particular tuner is very portable and allows you to check the tuning of each note while playing a piece as it clips onto the instrument.
• Practice book/journal - A great place to record what you have to work on and your time spent practicing each week. I would recommend the ABRSM Practice book (shown in the picture below), but an notebook will do the job perfectly. What to know how to keep a practice journal? click here. 
• Manuscript paper/book - Useful for writing out any transpositions. The picture below shows the Mickey Mouse manuscript book. 
• Pegs - essential for busking or outdoor concerts so avoid the embarrassing moment that your music blows away! The picture below shows the K&M Sheet music Clips.
• Portable metronome - Useful if you need to practice a tricky passage on the go.
  

8 Things Every Musician Should Own

This is a small list of a few items I would recommend to all musicians:

1. Metronome
A metronome is essential tool for a musician to ensure correcting timing and tempo. I would recommend downloading 'Metrotime' from the App store for free: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/metronome/id416443133?mt=8

2. Tuner
If you want to make sure you are in tune, a tuner is an essential item. I would recommend the 'Trevor James Chromatic Clip-on tuner': http://thetrumpetplayer.blogspot.com/2013/09/trevor-james-jmt-9006c-tuner-review.html  or download 'Cleartune' for £2.49 from the App store: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/cleartune-chromatic-tuner/id286799607?mt=8  

3. Music Stand
Get a folding stand to take to rehearsals and I would recommend a more durable orchestral stand for home use - especially if you are using the Arban! Check out K&M stands: http://www.k-m.de/en

4. Practise Book
If you have lessons, then I would definitely recommend getting some sort of practise book. This means that you teacher can write down important things for you to practise. If you don't have lessons then a practise book is still useful the right down things you have practised and what you need to focus on next session.

5. Pegs
If you are a member of ensembles, or busk then pegs are a must for outdoor gigs/concerts to prevent those sheets from flying off into the audience. (They are also useful for keeping the Arban on your stand!)

6. Lots of Sheet Music
Try and have a collection of many different styles of music - useful for sight reading practise too!

7. Recordings of Your Favourite Musicians
Listening to musicians that inspire you can real help to motivate you.

8. An Instrument Stand
I like to keep my trumpet out on its stand all the time. I find that it really motivates me to practise and makes it easier just to pick up and play. Find a suitable sturdy stand that is going to keep your instrument safe. Here is a review of a couple of trumpet stands: http://www.thetrumpetplayer.blogspot.com/2013/01/trumpet-stands.html

Dealing With Performance Anxiety

Performance anxiety is something that all musicians suffer from, however some find it easier to deal with than others. It is very easy to let nerves affect your performance, but there are some ways to deal with them.

1. Perform as much as possible
If you suffer from performance anxiety it is very easy to let yourself avoid performing as much as possible, however if you never perform you will never truly learn how best to deal with your nerves. Take as many opportunities to perform as possible, it will get easier.

2. Breathe
Breathing is one of the most important things you can do to calm yourself. Before you go on take some deep breaths slowly in through your nose and out through your mouth. This will truly help you to relax. Don't forget to breathe during the performance too. Breathing is one of the first things to go when we are nervous. Write "breathe" on your music, in important places and if you have a rest in the middle, take some more deep breaths (don't forget to count though!).

3. Believe in Yourself
Tell yourself "I can do this", reassurance is very important. Standing up in front of an audience is a very hard thing to do, be proud of yourself for having the courage to do it.

4. Rescue Remedy  

Bach's Rescue Remedy is a homeopathic medicine used for stress and anxiety. It contains natural ingredients and so can be taken by anyone (including children). I have read many mixed reviews from musicians about whether this truly helps with performance anxiety, but I believe it does. It is possible that it has the 'placebo' effect, so if you use it tell yourself that it will work! It comes in many different forms, but I personally use the spray. You spray it twice onto your tongue when you feel nervous and it is meant to relax you (however it doesn't taste particularly pleasant!). I really feel that it helped me and it is now an essential in my trumpet case.

 

5. Buzz Words  

Write encouraging and reassuring words at the top of your music. Things like "relax", "smile" and "calm" will help to reassure you when on stage.

6. Eat Bananas?!

I have no idea whether this actually works, but some people swear by it! It is apparently down to the potassium and vitamin B that the banana contains that reduce nerves and shaking. People suggest eating a banana half an hour before a performance. Anything’s worth trying!

7. Shaking? - Stand Straight

Shaking legs during a performance can be particularly annoying and can show your true nerves to the audience. If this is something you suffer with, keep your legs straight at all times. Never bend your knees as this seems to make it worse.