peanuts56
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 1, 2012
- Messages
- 685
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As I've gotten older (63)I've begun to sometimes experience a bit of anxiety or stage fright. In my previous musical life as a trumpeter I rarely ever had issues with stage fright. I've played the National Anthem solo in front of 4 to 5 thousand people and never gave it a second thought.
I sometimes play solo uke at church, mostly during communion or for the postlude. We have no musician on staff due to $$$ issues and several members have stepped in and volunteered their musical talents.
I was scheduled to play solo during communion this past Sunday. I recently had cataract surgery on both eyes. For the time being I can't wear the glasses I usually wear as the prescription is too strong. My doctor told me I would need to wait until the end of May to get a new prescription. By then everything in both eyes would be healed. I'm legal to drive without glasses but will need a much weaker prescription. For now I just need reading glasses.
I had the readers on while I was playing even though I memorize everything I play. I noticed that I could barely see the congregation with the readers. My anxiety level pretty much disappeared and I played flawlessly. Out of sight, out of mind! I wish I had discovered this a few years ago.
I also sing in the choir and our director plays finger style pretty well. One choir member just started playing ukulele after 50 years playing guitar. We played Gordon Charr's Roxy's Waltz for the postlude. The convert from guitar doesn't finger pick so she played the chords in a nice rhythmic waltz pattern. Roxy's Waltz has two melodies played simultaneously. Samantha played the A melody and I played the B section.
There's a video on the church's Facebook Page if anyone is interested. Google St. John's Episcopal Church Facebook Page, Waterbury, Conn. I'm the bald one!!!!!!!!!
I sometimes play solo uke at church, mostly during communion or for the postlude. We have no musician on staff due to $$$ issues and several members have stepped in and volunteered their musical talents.
I was scheduled to play solo during communion this past Sunday. I recently had cataract surgery on both eyes. For the time being I can't wear the glasses I usually wear as the prescription is too strong. My doctor told me I would need to wait until the end of May to get a new prescription. By then everything in both eyes would be healed. I'm legal to drive without glasses but will need a much weaker prescription. For now I just need reading glasses.
I had the readers on while I was playing even though I memorize everything I play. I noticed that I could barely see the congregation with the readers. My anxiety level pretty much disappeared and I played flawlessly. Out of sight, out of mind! I wish I had discovered this a few years ago.
I also sing in the choir and our director plays finger style pretty well. One choir member just started playing ukulele after 50 years playing guitar. We played Gordon Charr's Roxy's Waltz for the postlude. The convert from guitar doesn't finger pick so she played the chords in a nice rhythmic waltz pattern. Roxy's Waltz has two melodies played simultaneously. Samantha played the A melody and I played the B section.
There's a video on the church's Facebook Page if anyone is interested. Google St. John's Episcopal Church Facebook Page, Waterbury, Conn. I'm the bald one!!!!!!!!!
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