solo violinist playing with ease“Playing is never difficult; it is either easy, or it is impossible.”
-Kato Havas, violinist
The Musician’s Way, p. 21

We all love how it feels to play or sing with ease.

That sense of freedom we enjoy when physical tension melts away and mental focus expands.

Here are 7 ways to instill easeful habits in practice and on stage.

Whether you’re an instrumentalist or a singer, these habits help empower you to unleash your musical potential.

7 Tips to Play or Sing with Ease

1. Lengthen and Release
Allow your neck and spine to lengthen as you release unneeded muscular tension.

2. Minimize Pressure
Employ a light touch, and aim for a sense of buoyancy in your limbs.The Musician's Way book cover

3. Learn Deeply
Establish profound clarity in practice so that you can be accurate with little effort.

4. Feel Ahead
Conceive of each upcoming phrase before you execute it – hear and feel ahead.

5. Commit
Bring a fearless conviction to every musical gesture.

6. Be Generous
On stage, give wholeheartedly to your audience and to the emotions in the music.

7. Trust
As you perform, trust in your preparation and your ability to grow as an artist. Not every performance will be problem-free, but every moment that we have to make music is a moment to treasure.

“Not every performance will be problem-free, but every moment that we have to make music is a moment to treasure.”

See The Musician’s Way for comprehensive practice and performance strategies.

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Balanced Shoulders, Open Heart
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Feeling Ahead
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The Total Warm-Up

© 2015 Gerald Klickstein
Image © violetblue, licensed from Shutterstock