How I Manage My Bow Shakes

In this episode of Cosmicgirlie Cello Chronicles, I dive into a topic that isn't discussed nearly enough - performance anxiety. As a solo cellist, I’ve battled stage fright for most of my 40-year playing career. From bow shakes to panic attacks, I’ve tried everything to get it under control - beta blockers, alcohol, hypnosis, therapy, EFT, NLP... you name it. Some methods helped in the moment, others left me feeling detached and out of control.

I share my journey of overcoming the crippling fear that once made performances unbearable, how I’ve learned to manage my nerves without relying on substances, and why performance anxiety carries so much stigma in the classical music world.

If you’ve ever struggled with stage fright, this episode is for you.

What You'll Learn:

• The impact of performance anxiety on musicians (and why we don’t talk about it enough).
• The methods I’ve tried over the years to control stage fright—and which ones actually helped.
• The dangers of relying on beta blockers and alcohol for performance nerves.
• How mindset work, coaching, and alternative techniques like EFT have transformed my approach to playing.
• The importance of support and understanding in overcoming performance anxiety.

Resources & Mentions:

• Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)
• Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP)
• Beta blockers & performance anxiety
• The role of mindset coaching in music performance

🎻 Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review—it really helps!

Jay x

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🌍 Jay Émme Wedding & Session Cello: https://jayemme.com for the professional cello performances and wedding music support 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cosmicgirlie 📹 TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@cosmicgirlie for more cello chaos, and creative confidence boosts ❓ More links: https://bio.site/jayemme/ for more goodies!