Overcoming Nerves & Performing with Confidence – Tips for Ukulele Players

🎵 Overcoming Nerves & Performing with Confidence – Tips for Ukulele Players

Whether you’re about to perform at an open mic, play for friends, or just hit "record" on your camera, nerves are totally normal — and you’re not alone.

I just got back from a festival where I didn't follow my own advice and I stumbled through several songs because I wasn't prepared enough. So I know all too well the perils of stage fright or the anxiety when that 'record light' comes on.

In this post, I’m sharing some of my favourite tips from a recent live lesson on how to feel calmer, more in control, and actually enjoy performing.

🎯 1. Play It So Much You Can’t Go Wrong

One of the best things you can do is build muscle memory. Practice your piece so often that it becomes second nature. I’ve found that when I return to a piece I performed months ago, I always play it better — not because I practiced more, but because my fingers remember where to go.

Repetition builds trust in yourself. It’s how your playing goes from “thinking” to “feeling.”

🧠 2. Get in the Right Headspace

This one’s especially useful for emotional fingerstyle pieces. Try to forget the audience is there. I often trick my brain into thinking I’m playing just for myself. If I know a piece well, I’ll even close my eyes — it helps me connect deeply with the music.

For upbeat or interactive performances, this approach might not work — but for gentle, personal pieces, it’s a game-changer.

⚠️ 3. Be Prepared for Surprises

Playing live is a different beast from practicing at home. You might encounter:

• Stage lighting

• Wind blowing your sheet music

• Needing to plug in or adjust gear

• Standing with a strap

• Background noise

It helps to arrive early, get used to the space, and set everything up calmly. The more prepared you are for surprises, the less they’ll rattle you.

Practice how you'll perform as well. If you'll be playing standing with a strap - practice exactly that way.

🧘 4. Acknowledge the Nerves

Don’t try to pretend the nerves aren’t there — that rarely works. Acknowledge them, even thank them! It shows you care. Channel that energy into focus and intention.

Your audience wants you to succeed. They’re not looking for perfection — they’re looking to feel something. This leads me onto:

🧘 5. Remember the audience is on your side

* Audiences want you to succeed- they're your friends, not your enemies!

* If something goes wrong, smile, take a breath, and maybe even make a joke.

* Whether it's one person or 500, they're cheering you on. You've got this.

🌱 6. Reframe Mistakes

Mistakes happen to every musician. I know! It happens to me ALL THE TIME! The trick is learning how to carry on with confidence. A stumble doesn’t ruin a performance — how you recover does.

Instead of thinking:

“What if I mess up?”Try:“If something goes wrong, I’ll keep playing and connect back to the music.”

Often the audience doesn’t even notice unless we show them something went wrong.

If you take just one thing away from this blog:

Your job isn't to be perfect - it's to share something real - Matt

🎬 Watch the Full Live Lesson

Want to go deeper? Watch the full video on Overcoming Nerves & Performing with Confidence – Tips for Ukulele Players.

Watch the full live lesson here:👉 Overcoming Nerves & Performing – YouTube Live Replay

🎓 Want More Help Building Confidence?

Confidence comes from experience, mindset, and the right support. In my structured courses, I break things down step-by-step — so you always feel like you're making progress.

👉 Explore my full ukulele courses