A few serious words about anxiety…
I know that the last few comics have poked fun at Rhoads for his performance anxiety. But, I just wanted to say that Music Performance Anxiety (MPA) is a very real and very serious problem for some musicians. If you find yourself in a situation where you feel like pre-concert “nerves” is more than just nerves…help is available!
Most universities offer services for students through their respective “Student Health/Wellness Centers”. These services usually include counseling for conditions like MPA. Did I mention you’re probably already paying for it? As a student, you pay for these services through your tuition. That way, if you ever need it, it is available. So, please, if you find yourself dealing with MPA on your own, there is help available.
For those that don’t have access to MPA counseling through a university, your best resource for dealing with MPA is to talk about it with other musicians. Talk to your lesson teacher, talk to your band director, talk to your orchestra director, talk to anyone who will be willing to listen. Other musicians can help you deal with MPA because they’ve probably had to deal with it at some point in their musical education.