--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I cannot give a single concert at which I…" description: "\"I cannot give a single concert at which I do not play one piece after the other in an agony of terror because my memory threatens to fail me. This fear..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2f/clara-schumann-28551_agony_i-cannot-give-a-single-concert-at-which_1604746.jpg" --- # I cannot give a single concert at which I do not play one… ![“I cannot give a single concert at which I do not play one piece after the other in an agony of terror because my memory threatens to fail me. This fear torments me for days beforehand.” quote by Clara Schumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2f/clara-schumann-28551_agony_i-cannot-give-a-single-concert-at-which_1604746.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2f/clara-schumann-28551_agony_i-cannot-give-a-single-concert-at-which_1604746.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2f/clara-schumann-28551_agony_i-cannot-give-a-single-concert-at-which_1604746.jpg) > “I cannot give a single concert at which I do not play one piece after the other in an agony of terror because my memory threatens to fail me. This fear torments me for days beforehand.” [Clara Schumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clara-schumann/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She worries that forgetting music during performance will cause terror, so she rehearses intensely to avoid memory lapses. **In simple terms:** Fear of forgetting music drives intense preparation. Key Takeaway Practice thoroughly to mitigate performance anxiety. Themes performance anxiety memory preparation musicianship Mood anxious determined Type advice personal narrative When to use this quote - concerts - rehearsals - teaching - recording sessions Key Concepts cognitive load perfectionism stage fright Questions to Reflect On - How do you handle a slip during a live performance? - What strategies help calm pre‑show nerves? A Different Perspective Even with preparation, unexpected mishaps can still occur. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Agony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agony/) [Concerts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concerts/) [Failing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failing/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Fear Torments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear-torments-4517065/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Memories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memories/) [Memory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memory/) [Memory Threatens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memory-threatens-6108992/) [One piece](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/one-piece/) [Piece Agony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/piece-agony-6108994/) [Pieces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pieces/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Terror](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terror/) [Terror Memory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terror-memory-6108993/) [Torment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/torment/) ## Related quotes > [Pain is superficial, and therefore fear is. The torments of martyrdoms are probably most keenly felt by the by-standers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/pain-is-superficial-and-therefore-fear-is-the-torments-of-martyrdoms/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [To the grumbler who complains about the unfairness of the market system only one piece of advice can be given: If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/to-the-grumbler-who-complains-about-the-unfairness-of-the-market/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [All of my friends who have younger siblings who are going to college or high school - my number one piece of advice is:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zuckerberg/all-of-my-friends-who-have-younger-siblings-who-are-going-to-college/) [Mark Zuckerberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zuckerberg/) > [“In case we become candles, I want to have a nice pose”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roronoa-zoro/in-case-we-become-candles-i-want-to-have-a-nice-pose/) [Roronoa Zoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roronoa-zoro/) > [You can't get back what you've lost, What's important now is "What is it that you still have. —Jimbei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eiichiro-oda/you-can-t-get-back-what-you-ve-lost-what-s-important-now-is-what-is/) [Eiichiro Oda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eiichiro-oda/) > [Hunger makes you restless. you dream about food - not just any food, but perfect food, the best food, magical meals, famous and awe-inspiring,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/hunger-makes-you-restless-you-dream-about-food-not-just-any-food-but/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [We've made a huge effort globally and in the US, in getting kids jobs. 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He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/captain-smoker/why-was-he-laughing-did-he-know-that-he-would-survive-no-that-s/) [Captain Smoker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/captain-smoker/) > [The one piece of advice I would give to any actor is, if you want to go out on the street without being recognised,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-radcliffe/the-one-piece-of-advice-i-would-give-to-any-actor-is-if-you-want-to/) [Daniel Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-radcliffe/) > [“It's only legendary till someone proves it's real”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idk/it-s-only-legendary-till-someone-proves-it-s-real/) [idk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idk/) > [One should never forget that by actually perfecting one piece one gains and learns more than by starting or half-finishing a dozen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-brahms/one-should-never-forget-that-by-actually-perfecting-one-piece-one/) [Johannes Brahms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-brahms/) > [If i can't even protect my captain's dream, then whatever ambition i have is nothing but talk..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoro/if-i-can-t-even-protect-my-captain-s-dream-then-whatever-ambition-i/) [Zoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoro/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) ## More by Clara Schumann > [If I have known much trouble in my youth, I have also known much joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clara-schumann/if-i-have-known-much-trouble-in-my-youth-i-have-also-known-much-joy/) [Clara Schumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clara-schumann/) > [I will yield to popular demands only insofar as they do not betray my own convictions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clara-schumann/i-will-yield-to-popular-demands-only-insofar-as-they-do-not-betray-my/) [Clara Schumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clara-schumann/) > [My imagination can picture no fairer happiness than to continue living for art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clara-schumann/my-imagination-can-picture-no-fairer-happiness-than-to-continue/) [Clara Schumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clara-schumann/) > [I once believed that I possessed creative talent, but I have given up this idea; a woman must not desire to compose — there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clara-schumann/i-once-believed-that-i-possessed-creative-talent-but-i-have-given-up/) [Clara Schumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clara-schumann/) > [The tea is ice-cold, the room grows colder and colder, but I grow warmer and warmer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clara-schumann/the-tea-is-ice-cold-the-room-grows-colder-and-colder-but-i-grow/) [Clara Schumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clara-schumann/) > [Treasures are no longer to be got by instrumental art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clara-schumann/treasures-are-no-longer-to-be-got-by-instrumental-art/) [Clara Schumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clara-schumann/) > [How often have I actually discovered in myself that enthusiasm raises the artist above himself, how in an ordinary mood one would not have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clara-schumann/how-often-have-i-actually-discovered-in-myself-that-enthusiasm-raises/) [Clara Schumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clara-schumann/) > [“He gives me the impression of being a spoilt child. (on Liszt)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clara-schumann/he-gives-me-the-impression-of-being-a-spoilt-child-on-liszt/) [Clara Schumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clara-schumann/) > [There is nothing greater than the joy of composing something oneself and then listening to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clara-schumann/there-is-nothing-greater-than-the-joy-of-composing-something-oneself/) [Clara Schumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clara-schumann/) > [Is an artist much more than a beggar?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clara-schumann/is-an-artist-much-more-than-a-beggar/) [Clara Schumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clara-schumann/) > [My health may be better preserved if I exert myself less, but in the end doesn't each person give his life for his calling?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clara-schumann/my-health-may-be-better-preserved-if-i-exert-myself-less-but-in-the/) [Clara Schumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clara-schumann/) > [I cannot be so bad when everybody is so fond of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clara-schumann/i-cannot-be-so-bad-when-everybody-is-so-fond-of-me/) [Clara Schumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clara-schumann/) > [Every man has his faults; I have and so have you - you will allow me to say so!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clara-schumann/every-man-has-his-faults-i-have-and-so-have-you-you-will-allow-me-to/) [Clara Schumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clara-schumann/) > [You appear in the Novelletten in every possible circumstance, in every irresistible form... They could only be written by one who knows such eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clara-schumann/you-appear-in-the-novelletten-in-every-possible-circumstance-in-every/) [Clara Schumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clara-schumann/) > [I do not want horses or diamonds - I am happy in possessing you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clara-schumann/i-do-not-want-horses-or-diamonds-i-am-happy-in-possessing-you/) [Clara Schumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clara-schumann/) [Explore all 19 Clara Schumann quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clara-schumann/) ## More Agony quotes > [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [“aaron would not come out aaron entered into agony.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/aaron-would-not-come-out-aaron-entered-into-agony/) [William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/) > [ “\[W\]e must learn to accommodate ourselves to the discovery that some of those cunningly-fashioned instruments called human souls have only a very limited range… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/w-e-must-learn-to-accommodate-ourselves-to-the-discovery-that-some-of/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [As we look upon that agony and those tearful prayers, let us not only look with thankfulness; but let that kneeling Saviour teach us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-maclaren/as-we-look-upon-that-agony-and-those-tearful-prayers-let-us-not-only/) [Alexander MacLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-maclaren/) > [Love masters agony; the soul that seemed Forsaken feels her present God again And in her Father's arms Contented dies away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keble/love-masters-agony-the-soul-that-seemed-forsaken-feels-her-present/) [John Keble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keble/) > [I have seen war. I have seen war on land and sea. I have seen blood running from the wounded. I have seen men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/i-have-seen-war-i-have-seen-war-on-land-and-sea-i-have-seen-blood/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [“Anger was a reliable defense, but one that allowed no chance of final victory. Anger was a medicine but never a cure, briefly numbing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/anger-was-a-reliable-defense-but-one-that-allowed-no-chance-of-final/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [The cure is in the house, not brought by other hands from distant places, but by its own, in agony and blood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/the-cure-is-in-the-house-not-brought-by-other-hands-from-distant/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [Sometimes, a lie is told in kindness. I don't believe it ever works kindly. The quick pain of truth can pass away, but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/sometimes-a-lie-is-told-in-kindness-i-don-t-believe-it-ever-works/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [The young man shivered. 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"No one bests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/die-enemies-of-ra-sekhemet-yelled-perish-in-agony-she-s-almost-as/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) [Browse all 813 Agony quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agony/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I cannot give a single concert at which I do not play one piece after the other in an agony of terror because my memory threatens to fail me. 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