Say No To Drugs

In Reply to: Beta Blockers posted by Kelly on October 21, 2004 at 15:57:36:

Ken, You have got it righ there.

When I was a kid I was nervous too and it never crossed my mind to take drugs. They were not available to the people of the lower working class in Belfast. Today all sorts of drugs are available which were only available from an MD.

Taking drugs to overcome nerves is the thin edge of the wedge going in there. What are you going to do if you have something really serious in your life? When the drugs you have become accustomed to no longer serve the purpose?

Drugs are usually prescribed by an MD. That is what they do and they will argue the case for taking them.

It is normal to be nervous. If after taking drugs to win an audition do you think you are going to be less nervous when you have to play your first concert in your new found job? What are you going to do when a non musical life situation threatens you? Take stronger drugs? They are all available through a doctor and most doctors are ready to provide them for you. That is their everyday business.

There are many people doing things like auditions on minimum practice. It is quite common to ask how much practice you have to do in order to succeed. I will say you cannot do too much practice. You cannot prepare enough for anything. I practice my concerti and recitals till it looks easy. It never is but with a great amount of practice you can overcome your concert platform nerves.

Being unprepared heightens nerves. Ask yourself why you are nervous and then ask in the same breath if taking a drug will improve your performance.

What I suggest is to practice till you can do the job without being nervous. It is being in a situation of unpreparedness which brings on the nerves. I know this from personal experience. Drugs will not replace your bad flute technique nor help with your interpretation of the music.

Say no to drugs. Practice till you can get it from memory. Go on to the stage and play your heart out but say no to drugs.

Best wishes,
Sir James