I remember saying to someone that nerves might kill me if I perpetually had to perform, task after task, starting at 8 or 9 PM. (One of the many reasons that I would never be able to cut it as a jazz musician).
My recital today is at 5PM and I'm already in performance-mode, meaning -- 
hyper-focused, and not in the mood to run random errands this morning (I rarely am, and I'm not a big fan of running errands for three hours on the weekend). I want to perform beautifully with my colleagues and then not have the pressure of performance hanging over my head anymore for this project.
It is times like this where I try to borrow from experts who negotiate this a lot. I found this terrific link:
http://www.bulletproofmusician.com/how-to-make-performance-anxiety-an-asset-instead-of-a-liability/
And I think today I'm going to tend to my need for silence as much as possible. I'm going to go for a walk and then warm up, do my hair, and get to school hours early. (One of *many* advantages of performing where you work - you get a fabulous, private, "green room" one flight above the hall).
I am grateful for my colleagues (seven of them!) who will be joining me on stage, and hopefully some more in the audience.
I will let you know how it goes!
PHOTO: A very fitting photo for half of today's program: Brahms Opus 120 no 1 and the Schumann Spanish Songbook (for vocal quartet and one pianist), Opus 74. The other works on the program are Brittish, French and American. I took this photo today while in the Erzgebirger region hiking near Dresden, summer of 2012.
