🎶 5 Confidence-Building Exercises Every Young Musician Should Try 🎶
Confidence is just as important as talent when it comes to being a musician. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced player, self-doubt can hold you back from performing, writing, or sharing your music. The good news? Confidence is a muscle—and with practice, you can build it!
Here are five powerful confidence-building exercises every young musician should try.
1. Record Yourself & Listen Back 🎤🎧
One of the biggest fears musicians have is hearing their own voice or playing on a recording. But the more you do it, the more comfortable you’ll become!
Try this:
🎙️ Record yourself singing or playing an instrument on your phone.
🎧 Listen back without judgment—focus on what you like, not just what you want to fix.
📓 Write down one thing you love about your performance before thinking about improvements.
👉 Why It Works: Learning to appreciate your own sound and hear progress over time builds self-trust and confidence.
2. Perform for One Person at a Time 👥
If the thought of performing in front of a crowd makes you nervous, start small.
Try this:
1️⃣ Perform a song for one friend or family member.
2️⃣ Next time, perform for two or three people.
3️⃣ Gradually build up to bigger groups until performing feels natural.
👉 Why It Works: Small wins add up! By easing into performance situations, your confidence grows without overwhelming pressure.
3. Use Power Poses Before Performing 💪
Confidence isn’t just in your mind—it’s in your body too! The way you stand, breathe, and move can make a huge difference in how you feel before a performance.
Try this:
✔️ Stand tall with your feet planted shoulder-width apart.
✔️ Place your hands on your hips (like a superhero!).
✔️ Take a deep breath, exhale slowly, and visualize yourself performing confidently.
👉 Why It Works: Research shows that power poses boost confidence by reducing stress hormones and increasing self-assurance.
4. Fake It ‘Til You Make It 🕶️
Even professional musicians still get nervous—the secret is that they act confident, even when they don’t feel it.
Try this:
🎭 Next time you perform, pretend you’re already a confident musician—even if you feel nervous inside.
✨ Use strong body language, smile, and move naturally on stage.
🎸 If you make a mistake, keep going as if nothing happened.
👉 Why It Works: The brain can’t always tell the difference between acting confident and actually being confident—so eventually, it becomes real!
5. Celebrate Small Wins & Track Your Progress 🏆
Confidence grows when you recognize how far you’ve come. Too often, musicians focus on what they need to improve instead of how much they’ve already improved.
Try this:
📓 Keep a “Music Confidence Journal.”
🎶 After each practice or performance, write down one thing you did well.
✅ Set small, achievable goals (e.g., “Today, I played this song without stopping!”).
👉 Why It Works: Tracking progress shifts your mindset from self-doubt to self-belief, reinforcing that you’re getting better every day.
🎸 Confidence Takes Practice—Just Like Music!
Building confidence isn’t an overnight thing, but with these exercises, you’ll start feeling more comfortable, capable, and excited to share your music with the world.
Want to boost your confidence even more? Join Amplify this summer and learn, perform, and grow in a supportive, judgment-free space! 🎶💜
