Add this entry to Your Favorites | [0] Favorites [1] Comments

Please wait...

I am asked quite often about stage fright and how to overcome it. So let’s think about how it does affect our singing. Fear tightens the muscles which constrict our ability to sing correctly and on pitch.

Three things cause stage fright, not being musically secure, not being vocally secure, and egotism.

If one is insecure musically with even one song in your program that insecurity will cause nervousness throughout the entire program. That selection should be omitted from the program.

The singer must feel secure in his vocal production before performing anything publicly. This does not mean that he or she must wait until they are vocally perfect, but we should always come away from a public appearance with a good feeling, not a feeling of having done badly.

Now, what is egotism? The singer is thinking about what someone out in the audience is thinking about him or her. This will always cause nervousness. The mind should be centered on the message to be sung, the moods and the music, and all that will be communicated. Before a performance, the singer should have prepared himself well, musically and vocally. From that point on he is simply a channel through which the music is flowing.

Singers should never choose music that goes beyond what they can do vocally at this stage of their development. So often, young singers begin singing songs which are way beyond them vocally. It is never a good thing for the voice; the music will not be sung well and will only cause nervousness in the mind of the performer.

Words have power. That is why one should never use the words, “I’m afraid.” It is wrong for you to voice these words, not only for yourself but for what it can do to others around you. Fear is catching. If you are near someone wringing their hands and pacing before a performance, get away from them! You will find yourself feeling their anxiety.

It is normal for your heart to beat faster than it does regularly, that is when your adrenalin is flowing through your body. Adrenalin dilates the blood vessels in your muscles and allows more blood into them to help them work. To slow your heart rate, try taking deep breaths before your performance. Your body requires more oxygen when your adrenalin is flowing so give it what it needs. This will help you relax, too.

There is one thing that will help you more than anything else and that is to say a prayer before your performance, thanking God for the talent He gave you. Then simply ask Him to make you a channel through which He can sing to give joy and blessing to the listeners. Then sing for His joy, not yours. Keeping our mind on the reason we sing and what we are singing will make us feel calm and at ease. Then try spreading that feeling around to the other singers rather than taking on their anxiety and fear.

The BEAM Association is getting so close to being in full swing. Be looking for information in the near future so that you can join and become a part of this great Association of ministers. What a great time we will have.

Also, I would love to see you at “Christian Music Conference” in Murray, KY, July 10 - 16. You can request me for you private vocal listens and I would enjoy investing in your ministry. So go to the website at http://www.schoolofgospelmusic.net and check it out or email me your address and I will send you a brochure. Mention my name when you call or email them. They love to know how you found out about the school. I will look for you there!

Until next time, keep singing His praises!

Marti Ledford

Reader Comments

Add Comments

If you are seeing this form you are not a Member or have not logged in. Why not consider becoming a Member?

Membership allows you to have a prepared signature of your choice applied to every comment you make, as well as the ability to choose an avatar to display next to your name to help identify your posts. Members are also given opportunity to vote weekly in our Weekly Chart as well as special Members Only contests, polls and giveaways during the year. If you are already a member, login here, otherwise please register here.

**Note: Forums membership is a seperate membership.

By posting you agree to our Comments Policy

Name:
Email:
Location:
URL:
Comment:
	Remember my personal information
	Notify me of follow-up comments?
Please enter the word you see in the image below: