BERLIN // Stage fright is seemingly an epidemic among concert musicians, although few will admit it to their peers.
Flautists fear that their trembling lips will cause dissonances that make listeners wince; violinists are petrified that their shaking hands will make the bow bounce across the strings; bassoonists suffer dry mouths just when it's their turn to blow. One conductor is known to attach his baton to his wrist with a rubber band to stop it quivering.
The paralysing fear of hitting the wrong note on stage or in the orchestra pit can plague performers their whole lives, cause alcohol and drug dependency and thwart promising musicians whose talents would otherwise lead them on to illustrious careers.
Experts at the University Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy in the western German city of Bonn have decided to tackle the problem. They have set up the country's first stage fright centre, offering discreet treatment for an affliction that they believe affects half of all musicians.
Martin Landsberg, a psychologist who set up the centre, said: "We want to help musicians to break this vicious circle." Patients are told to write down the sources of their fear in an "angst diary" and are taught personalised relaxation exercises to lessen the symptoms of stage fright.
Dr Landsberg, an amateur musician who plays the horn, said: "The longer a musician has had the problem, the longer it will take them to control their stage fright."
The centre has treated 50 to 60 people since it was set up last year, including musicians from Britain, Austria and the Netherlands, and has had positive feedback. The treatment can last several weeks, depending on the severity of the symptoms.
Deirdre Mahkorn, a neurologist who co-founded the centre with Dr Landsberg, said: "Stage fright is a taboo subject, and colleagues don't discuss it among themselves. There has been strong interest in our new treatment centre as a result. The musicians are happy that their fear is being acknowledged."
Dr Mahkorn, who is a professionally trained singer and plays the piano, said musicians who had undergone treatment had gone on to win auditions and pass their entrance tests for music school.
Each patient has his or her personality and specific circumstances profiled and the centre uses that information to address the root causes of the individual's stage fright.
"It is always caused by thoughts such as disaster fantasies or self-fulfilling prophecies," Dr Mahkorn said. "We try to fathom the thoughts that create the symptoms of fear and then we tackle those thoughts and turn them round so that the patient can then sit in the orchestra and say to himself, 'Nothing is happening, those are just my thoughts doing this to me and in reality nothing bad can happen'."
The centre also simulates concerts to help musicians practise confronting their anxieties in realistic conditions.
There are no plans at present to expand the programme to treat actors. But Dr Mahkorn has some general advice for people suffering from nervous tension before a stressful situation, such as an exam or a job interview: "There's no panacea but it's important to keep the surroundings as constant as possible, which means having enough sleep, having enough to eat and not arriving at the last minute with one's heart racing."
The centre places much emphasis on preserving the anonymity of its patients. Appointments are co-ordinated to make sure that musicians who know each other do not run into each other at the clinic by accident.
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Know your Camel lingo
The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home
Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless
Asayel camels - sleek, short-haired hound-like racers
Majahim - chocolate-brown camels that can grow to weigh two tonnes. They were only valued for milk until camel pageantry took off in the 1990s
Millions Street - the thoroughfare where camels are led and where white 4x4s throng throughout the festival
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Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
OIL PLEDGE
At the start of Russia's invasion, IEA member countries held 1.5 billion barrels in public reserves and about 575 million barrels under obligations with industry, according to the agency's website. The two collective actions of the IEA this year of 62.7 million barrels, which was agreed on March 1, and this week's 120 million barrels amount to 9 per cent of total emergency reserves, it added.
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UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves.
The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.
Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
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CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
Points classification after Stage 4
1. Arnaud Demare (France / FDJ) 124
2. Marcel Kittel (Germany / Quick-Step) 81
3. Michael Matthews (Australia / Sunweb) 66
4. Andre Greipel (Germany / Lotto) 63
5. Alexander Kristoff (Norway / Katusha) 43
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
THE BIO
Favourite book: ‘Purpose Driven Life’ by Rick Warren
Favourite travel destination: Switzerland
Hobbies: Travelling and following motivational speeches and speakers
Favourite place in UAE: Dubai Museum
Getting there
Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Tbilisi from Dh1,025 return including taxes
The five new places of worship
Church of South Indian Parish
St Andrew's Church Mussaffah branch
St Andrew's Church Al Ain branch
St John's Baptist Church, Ruwais
Church of the Virgin Mary and St Paul the Apostle, Ruwais
MATCH INFO
Manchester United v Manchester City, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Match is on BeIN Sports
The years Ramadan fell in May
if you go
The flights
Emirates flies to Delhi with fares starting from around Dh760 return, while Etihad fares cost about Dh783 return. From Delhi, there are connecting flights to Lucknow.
Where to stay
It is advisable to stay in Lucknow and make a day trip to Kannauj. A stay at the Lebua Lucknow hotel, a traditional Lucknowi mansion, is recommended. Prices start from Dh300 per night (excluding taxes).
Teenage%20Mutant%20Ninja%20Turtles%3A%20Shredder's%20Revenge
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDeveloper%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ETribute%20Games%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dotemu%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EConsoles%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENintendo%20Switch%2C%20PlayStation%204%26amp%3B5%2C%20PC%20and%20Xbox%20One%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The Penguin
Starring: Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz
Creator: Lauren LeFranc
Rating: 4/5