Peak Performance for Musicians
Overcome Music Performance Anxiety with Mental Game Strategies
Practicing is a way of life for musicians. Not only are we expected to perform at consistently high levels, we are constantly learning new music, improving our skills, and reaching for new heights. Let's face it, we want to play or sing well. We want to make great music and we certainly want to avoid embarrassment, disappointing ourselves and others, and, of course, we want to avoid mistakes … [Read more...]
Preparing your mind to perform is another important reason for having a great pre-performance routine. As you prepare to begin your performance, you will want to engage in thinking and activities that enhance your trust in yourself, your preparation, and your readiness to perform. Also, you will want to recognize the fearful, anxious, and doubtful thoughts and actions—performance … [Read more...]
One of the most important of the 7 Strategies for a Great Pre-Performance Routine is focus. We're not talking just any focus, but a focus on: What is most important to your performance (and I'm not talking about the outcome!) What is within your control THE PROCESS This very moment We are examining the components of a great pre-performance routine to help you respond effectively to … [Read more...]
Mental rehearsal, or vividly visualizing yourself practicing or performing difficult passages, preparing yourself to be confident, or reviewing a memorized section or a past performance are all effective supplements to the physical practice you or your students engage in prior to performance. Some may also call this type of practice imagery. Whatever you call it, vividly seeing, hearing, and … [Read more...]
When preparing for an upcoming performance performers work diligently by practicing and rehearsing. As we've talked about before, musicians spend the majority of their time in the practice room or in rehearsal rather than on the stage and can be more readily characterized as practicers rather than performers. You would think that would make us experts at practicing. However, many musicians … [Read more...]
Do you feel it in the air? The tension? The uncertainty? This is audition season and lots of musicians are beating the pavement laying it all on the line to get into college, graduate school, or win a much coveted spot in a summer music festival or program. Some are looking for professional positions in chamber groups or orchestras. There's nothing like an audition. You've spent … [Read more...]
It may begin with the letter or email notifying you of your long-awaited audition date and time. Your heart starts to pound, your throat gets tight, and suddenly your mouth feels like the Sahara Desert! It may not hit you that fast. It may wait to start on the night before the audition when you’re lying in bed. You have a hard time sleeping. Your mind begins to race and to play … [Read more...]
In How to Face Your Fear and Perform! we talked about getting in touch with the reasons why you perform, the importance of preparing well and learning to trust your preparation, and the importance of learning the other mental skills it takes to perform without fear. I don't know about you, but I find that when the word "practice" is brought up many people have adverse reactions. These … [Read more...]