Why You Keep Choking in Your Lessons and Performances

One of my subscribers sent me an email the other day:

“I CHOKE AT LESSONS. I practice all week and have it nailed. Then the teacher comes for a lesson…CLAM. CLAM. CHOKE. I got so discouraged I actually quit.”

Boy, do I know how that feels...

I have many not-so-fond memories of showing up to my private lessons in school feeling READY TO GO only to completely flop when it came time to showcase all of my hard work from the past week.

The same thing would happen during concerts. I’d feel confident and prepared, no nerves, nothin! And then, in the middle of playing, everything would go to hell, and I’d fantasize about throwing my horn in the river after the show.

Here’s the thing…

How well you play and how good you sound are very subjective, especially when it comes to context.

What do I mean? Try this experiment:

Find or make a recording of yourself where you think you sound pretty good.

Then, listen to that recording with your nine-year-old nephew who’s just starting to get into music.

Next, play the same recording for your teacher or some other musician that you admire. Again, you need to listen with them (emailing the recording and having them listen on their own ain’t the same thing).

So, does it feel different listening alongside the two audiences?

My guess is that you feel better playing the recording for the kid.

And for the teacher…I wouldn’t be shocked if you notice mistakes in your playing that weren’t there before.

The point is, how good you sound is subjective. Could your “choke” in a lesson just be how you normally sound but with higher standards in play? Maybe, maybe not.

Either way, here is some practical advice that will help:

Amateurs practice until they get it right.

Professionals practice until they never get it wrong.

So, when you’re shedding for your next lesson, or practicing a killer lick from Tastiest Blues Licks You’ve Ever Heard, be able to play whatever it is you’re working on perfectly at least five consecutive times before moving on to something else.

And by the way, Tastiest Blues Licks is still super cheap and incredibly soulful. You can grab your copy here.

- Jeff