I did a solo performance?!

I have to say I can be quite shy when it comes to playing the guitar. Even though I've played for 9 -nearly 10 years- I still get anxious playing in front of others, mostly on my own. The only reason is because I'm a perfectionist so if I'm trying to show my skills and I mess up, it's the worst. I've grown up a lot now though, especially from my music performance course in college. I can prove I'm actually decent at guitar and will play in front of others! Took a while but I'm getting there!

So, I'd been playing with others and in bands for a while in and out of college, but never had to perform on my own. That was until an assessment of course.....of course there had to be an assessment to show off my skills!!!

That would've been the first time I've had to play the guitar in front of others and a camera on my own. In primary school I'd done a lot of lead roles for performances but that was years ago! Now I really had to prove myself...

Once we found out about the assessment, I had to choose a song that would show a lot of different techniques and skills. Instead of a proper song, I decided to go with a piece from Rock School, just because they made you use different techniques for exams. I practised so much for that assessment and it definitely payed off. I became more confident with certain techniques because of the practice I put into that song, as well as helping with my improvisation skills (they was an improv section in the piece).

My best friend and I were always in the practice studios at college practicing our songs and helping each other out. When the day came to perform, we practiced loads beforehand in those studios, giving each other advice and encouragement! It was cute...

I think I was one of the first people to perform that day, but it didn't really make a difference; I'd be nervous either way. I got up there on stage, in front of my tutor, the camera and my friends to perform the piece I'd been practicing for weeks. Luckily I didn't forget anything on the day!

I'm fairly sure the whole thing went well. I don't remember messing up too bad or at all in fairness. I played as best as I could, using all the techniques I knew and hopefully that showed to the tutor and the camera. It was two years ago I did that, so I can hardly remember the piece now never mind how the performance went! Anyway I got a distinction from it and positive feedback, so it couldn't have gone bad could it?!

#guitarsperformancesinterviews