performance anxiety

Thirteen-year-old Aniyah's mother and all of her aunts went to historically Black universities and were drill and step team members, but Aniyah does not like performing and has avoided stepping, until her friend Stacy convinces her that now they are entering eighth grade they should both join the school step club which does not compete; Aniyah discovers that stepping can be fun--but when the club decides to enter a competition all of Aniyah's fears come back and she wants to quit.

Although he lives on a farm in Minnesota, Ben Martin is a skateboarder who dreams of having a chance to skate with professionals at a regional competition, but he has never performed in front of a crowd and when he goes to make a demonstration video he freezes up.

"In this high-interest novel for teen readers, Paisley has to get over her fear of performing in public if she ever wants to be a famous pop star"--Provided by publisher.

"Kosei and Nagi's duet has carried thoughts and feelings to the most precious people in the musicians' lives. The words, 'please play with me again' from Kosei give Kaori a small ray of hope. As Kosei competes to qualify for the Eastern Japan Piano Competition in December, Kaori begins her difficult rehabilitation. Each of them begins their difficult walk forward, but will the coming winter bring healing or hardship?"--Back cover.

"After successfully performing a piece imbued with his mother's memories, Kosei overcomes his trauma and seems stronger than ever. But for Kaori, the gala concert was spent bedridden in the hospital. Her second hospitalization, nearly back-to-back with her previous one, exacerbates Kosei's fears. Even then, he continues to practice piano. But one day, on the way to his music lessons, a strange girl falls into Kosei's life--what will he do?!"--Back cover.

"With Kaori nowhere to be seen at the gala concert, Kosei is forced to perform alone. As he plays, he confronts painful memories and finds a link connecting him to the audience, his late mother, and even himself. Meanwhile, Tsubaki struggles to find truth within her complicated feelings for Kosei-is he like a little brother to her, a childhood friend, or something more...?"--Back cover.

"After the death of his mother, child prodigy Arima Kosei gave up the piano forever -- or so he thought. That vow turned out to be no match for the persistence of sprightly violinist Kaori Miyazono, who's roped Arima back into the world of competitive classical music. But after so many years, will Arima be able to sit down at the ivories again like nothing happened? Or will history repeat itself, with Arima crumbling under the pressure?"--Back cover.

"Kosei Arima was a piano prodigy until his cruel taskmaster of a mother died suddenly, changing his life forever. Driven by his pain to abandon piano, Kosei now lives in a monotonous, colorless world. Having resigned himself to a bland life, he is surprised when he meets Kaori Miyazono, a violinist with an unorthodox style. Can she bring Kosei back to music, and back to life?"--Back cover.

"'Want to commit double suicide with me?' Kaori's words echo in Kosei's mind. What can he do for her now, while she is still hospitalized? At the Aiza home, Nagi sees her brother Takeshi fall deeper and deeper into a slump and wonders how to cheer him up. Amid their worries, the teacher and student form a surprise duo for Kurumigaoka Middle School's festival. What will happen with two pianists on one piano?!?"--Back cover.

"Spirits are still high after the Maiho Music Competition when Kaori receives a letter in the mail: There's going to be a gala concert to celebrate the winners and even though Kaori and Kosei didn't advance, they are invited to perform! Confident they can leave a lasting impression, Kaori seizes the chance to order Kosei back onto the stage with her. The ultimate duo that moved an entire audience's hearts will perform once more, and people are buzzing with anticipation. Yet Kosei seems listless and uninterested in the festivities. Can Kaori and Kosei get their act together in time?"--Back cover.