When ever I have to play a solo or seating test in front of people i get really freaked out. I try not to but I end up shaking during the performance and you can tell it in my tone. Im not a bad player but usually cant show how I really play because I am so nervous. does anyone have any tips for me? you would think that after playing for all of elementary, middle, and most of highschool that I would get over this.

Play in front of people any time you get the chance. Whether it is a live performance, an adjudicated solo, or just practicing for friends, this will help. Also, playing in smaller groups that provide more emphasis on the individual without being a solo will help too.

and show off just at random times until you get comftorable playing in froont of anyone

just try to stay calm when you get nervous you tense up and that is what screws ya up (i got the same promblem...DOPE)

I definetly got the same problem that you described, and I still haven`t gotten over it my 6.5 years of playing.
One tip is to just play by yourself with the music playing in your mind (imagine you are rehearsing with the band) and just play; you weren`t nervous then right?
Well just take whatever you played when you weren`t nervous and when you actually play it in rehearsal try to pretend like you are practicing--add this with other common stress relievers, and it helps.
Oh yeah and make sure you can actually play your solo and if you have trouble technically, practice until you do, then work on not feeling nervous.
Good luck I know how you feel.

I have the exact the same problem! In order to cure it, just absorb yourself into the music. If that`s all you think of, you won`t be able to be nervous, bacause all of your concentration will be focused on your notes!

I`m going to try that at my pep assembly on Monday, and if no one has checked it, I`ll let you know if it worked. Good luck!

well, i`m a sax, but whatever. Ya, I used to get freaked out whenever i played in front of people. Including like playing a scale for a grade in front of the band, and i was the best player in there. really freaked me out. I would shake! like shiver. wow. Well, I guess what i do is play the music, practice it, until I am utterly confident that I won`t or can`t screw it up. an interesting quote: "the differebce between a amatour and a proffesional is that teh amatour practises it until he gets it right, the proffesional pracitces it until he never gets it wrong." you just gotta be confident. course i still get freaked out and all. hope that helps a bit.