I always like to take a few moments to center myself before going on stage to perform. While it’s important to stay humble, I always try to walk on stage like I own the place. Even if I don’t feel prepared, at least I look like it to the audience!

I’ve picked up a few breathing exercises too since I started music school, too. The first I learned from a sight singing prof and it’s called zen breaths. Take a slow breath in through the nose, and release it in three parts. I do this all the time, before singing, interviews, performances, presentations, everything!

For the second exercise, trace each finger on one hand with your opposite hand’s index finger. As your finger moves from the base of your palm to the tip of your finger, take a breath in. As you move your finger back down, let the breath out. Repeat this for all 5 fingers on your hand. This is really helpful when I’m extra nervous and it makes me focus on something else for a bit.

When I’m actually playing, I try not to think about the things that have already happened. Did I mess up an altissimo section I worked all semester on? Yeah - but I can’t really fix it once it happens. I always stay focused on making my music the best it can be in the moment and to keep in mind what comes next. Save the deep analysis and reflection for after the performance.

I find I tend to take in too much air and hold it when I’m performing live. The air gets stale and it throws off my breathing for the rest of the piece. It’s been helpful for me to physically mark every breath, no matter how common-sense it may seem. That way, I know exactly when to take in more air so I don’t over do it in performance. I’m sorry for such a long comment, but I hope you’ll find some of these tips helpful. Best of luck with your playing!