Piano Diana Blog

Hold On

Songwriters: Carnie Wilson, Glen Ballard, and Chynna Phillips

Hello Readers!

How are you doing and what are you listening to through this most challenging time? I have been thinking of how I could encourage someone and this song came to mind... Hold On! Things will change... Just Hold On! Do you remember this one? It's from the 90s!

Key of F

Tempo: 4/4 Moderate Rock

Intro

F C/F Bb(add9)F (2x)

Verse 1

F C/F

I know there's pain

F F/E Dm7 Bb Bb/C
Why do you lock yourself up in these chains?

F C/F Bb/F
No one can change your life except for you

C/F F C/F Bb/F C
Don't ever let anyone step all over you

F C/F Bb/F C/E
Just open your heart and your mind

Dm F(add9)/A Bb Bb/C
Is it really fair to feel this way inside?

Chorus

F Bb/F

Some day somebody's gonna make you want to

C/F F
Turn around and say goodbye

Bb/F
Until then baby are you going to let them

C/F F
Hold you down and make you cry
Don't you know?

Bb/F
Don't you know things can change

C/F F
Things'll go your way

Bb F/A Gm7
If you hold on for one more day

Gm7/C Bb F/A Gm7
Can you hold on for one more day

Gm7/C
Things'll go your way

F C/F Bb(add9)/F (2xs)
Hold on for one more day

Verse 2

You could sustain
Or are you comfortable with the pain?
You've got no one to blame for your unhappiness
You got yourself into your own mess
Lettin' your worries pass you by
Don't you think it's worth your time
To change your mind?

Chorus... then,

F C/F

I know that there is pain

Bb/F C/F
But you hold on for one more day and ya

F C/F Bb/F
Break free from the chains

F C/F
Yeah I know that there is pain

Bb/F C/F
But you hold on for one more day and you

Break free, break from the chains

Some day somebody's gonna make you want to
Turn around and say goodbye
Until then baby are you going to let them
Hold you down and make you cry
Don't you know?
Don't you know things can change
Things'll go your way

Bb F/A Gm7 Gm7/C
If you hold on for one more day yeah

F Bb/F C/F F C/F F
If you hold on

Bb/F

Don't you know things can change

Things'll go your way
If you hold on for one more day
If you hold on
Can you hold on
Hold on baby
Won't you tell me now
Hold on for one more day 'cause
It's gonna go your way

Don't you know things can change
Things'll go your way
If you hold on for one more day
Can't you change it this time

Make up your mind
Hold on
Hold on
Baby hold on

Chords Played in the Song:

Intro: F = F/CFAC and C/F= F/CEGC and F/DFBbC

F(add9)/A = A/FGC

Gm7/C = C/FBbC

Bb(add9)/F = F/CDFBb

Have fun playing it on the piano or guitar with your awesome vocals!

Take good care!

"Jazz washes away the dust of everyday life." -- Art Blakey

How To Manage Musical Performance Anxiety: Piano Diana

I wanted to follow up on an older post, Music Therapy and talk about Performance Anxiety.
I recently read that over 80% of us experience a bit of anxiety when we become the center of attention. So we know that some butterflies are a good thing before we perform. However, anxiety should not take over and debilitate the performer.

Over the years I have been made aware of students experiencing these feelings:

The anticipation of failure and fear of humiliation or exposure
Intense anxiety and, sometimes, panic attacks
Awareness that the fear is excessive
Avoidance of performance situations or enduring performances with intense distress
Impaired performance
Shyness, sensitivity to criticism, increased anxiety in situations other than performing and lowered self-esteem

I was reading a very informative article by Joann Kirchner elaborating on several basic techniques to alleviate mild performance anxiety. I'll touch upon a few of them.

Memory Stations
Video/Audio Tape
Realistic Expectations
Performance Rehearsals
Perform Frequently
Attend to Non-Musical Matters in Advance
Focus on the Present
Avoid Inner Dialogue
Replace Negative Thoughts
Visualization
Alexander technique
Autogenic Therapy
Beta-Blockers
Biofeedback
Deep Breathing
Eastern Disciplines
Progressive Muscle Relaxation
Systematic Desensitization

I find that some of my students can memorize phrase structures and without looking at their sheet music can memorize 8-16 measures of music. Many find it challenging to memorize, so I never insist that students performing in recitals memorize their songs. I think the balance is not to be completely dependent on your chord charts but to be familiar with the song and play it comfortably in front of others.

My students love performing 2-3 times a year in front of an audience. They also perform for their family gatherings, also school talent shows. Their confidence level increases with familiarity. I highly recommend performing in comfortable shoes! Some of my younger girls couldn't control the damper pedal with ease wearing Uggs and boots. Their slurs were quite blurry sounding.

Focus on the present is the best advice any teacher can give to their students. I like to talk with them about staying within this imaginary bubble you've created. Others refer to it as "having a focused state of mind with a total absorption in an activity as being in a state of 'flow.'"

I'm a huge fan of not only seeing with your eyes but also with your ears as one performs. I hope you will put on a fresh new perspective when performing. Ruth Soukup said, "If all else fails, then 'Do It Scared!'"

There seems to be a popular book regarding performance anxiety you may want to check out, Performance Anxiety Strategies.

Blessings,