““Being brave isn’t the absence of Fear
Being brave is having that fear
But finding a way through it.””
No one is born or lives their life without feeling fear. Fortunately, most fears can be conquered with daily practice. Learning a few techniques, and applying self-discipline can help you get to the other side of your fear.
Both children and adults have brains that are good at conquering fears as well as learning new things. The thought that only children are capable of learning how to play instruments is a huge misconception.
Yes, of course, there is a certain amount of plasticity that growing children's brains benefit from, but the Brain does not quit after turning 18. We learn new skills our entire lives, and a musical instrument is an intellectual endeavor as much as it is one of muscle memory. Practice and discipline are what make great musicians; those two elements that are available to just about anyone.
We know that fear paralyzes action and shuts down the Brain, but ironically, did you know that you can also positively use your Brain to overcome fear?
Here are my top three techniques that will help you to overcome your fear of playing any instrument.
1. Visualize yourself taking a lesson with the instrument you want to play.
By visualizing yourself performing with confidence in an area where you are fearful, your subconscious mind will accept your visual image as instructions for your performance.
Your self-image eventually changes after you see yourself playing an instrument by feeding your mind positive mental pictures of performing at your best.
2. Practice “acting as if."
Using the "act as if" method, you will walk, talk, and carry yourself precisely as you would if you were utterly unafraid in any situation. Tell your friends and family that you are a musician and that you play the piano (or whatever instrument you are learning) and that you practice often.
Confidently telling others that you are a musician, and acting as if you already dare to embrace the instrument you want to play, will help you move toward the instrument without fear.
3. Sign up for a music lesson.
When you sign up for a music lesson, you are moving toward your fear. When you identify the fear and move toward it, it grows smaller and more manageable. As your fear grows smaller, your confidence grows larger.
Soon, your fear loses its control over you. In contrast, when you move away from a fear-inducing situation or person, your fear grows larger. Quite quickly, it will dominate your thoughts and feelings. Your ability to confront, deal with, and act despite your fears is the key to playing music.
When you move toward facing any fear-inducing situation in your life, your self-esteem increases, your self-respect increases, eventually you reach the point in life where you are not afraid of anything. And playing music will become just “a thing you do!”