I`m 16 and just started violin and have my first recital on June 6th. Anyway, I`m nervous about that. Firstly, I don`t think nervousness will go away unless you relax and just do your best. I still get stage fright at concerts (we have a small band of 7) and I`ve been playing clarinet three years now. It will be there, but you have to overcome it by telling yourself that you can do it, you`ve been practicing, and you have to have the right motives (mine is to play to the best of my ability to praise God through my instrument). I hope this helps you get over your stage fright.

Hey...U know what? Our violin forum has a whole list of methods to curb stage fright...some of wjicj are from Alexander`s Technique( Royal College`s course)...U may wanna check it out.
http://www.soloviolin.com
BTW, This`s how I control my stage fright...by drinking a little b4 the gig...It helps to tone my nerves down alot...But I guess it ain`t a good method for u, since yr underage.

sign up. since i have solo piano parts, it feels a lot better when i play with people in my orchestra. if you mess up, you know that other people are still playing and others wont hear you mess up as much.

Michael...

Being nervous is human. I have been playing violin for about seven years now, I attend the Juilliard pre-college program. I have performed so many times. In the beginning i used to get so so so so nervous. After I played in a few concerts it got a lot easier. I do still get a little nervous, but not nearly as bad. My teacher told me to chose someone in my mind that I want to play for. Someone who loves to hear me play and smiles at my playing. When you are in a concert, ignore all of the other people in the audience and think of the person that you chose and play for that person. Pretend that person is in the back of the concert hall smiling at you. It works! The other thing, is if you love to play, then just go out there and play from your heart, the rest is a go.
"Where words fail, music speaks"
Hope all of that helped
Good Luck Michael
love, Jessica