“Your habits in the practice room make you the musician that you are.” -The Musician’s Way, p. 20 Imagine being on stage, about to begin a performance: Are your thoughts typically focused, or does your mind race? If you feel jittery, do you know how to attain a...
“Gauge your sound and internal experience against the benchmarks of excellence.” -The Musician’s Way, p. 58 How can we master unfamiliar music in ways that are both soulful and efficient? In a few words, we have to be proficient with what I call the 3 components of...
“Every performance is different. That’s the beauty of it.” -Van Morrison The Musician’s Way, p. 153 To reach the heart of performance, let’s start by deciphering what a performance is. Consider this: When we play or sing for someone else, we’re performing; and...
“When I play, I make love – it is the same thing.” -Arthur Rubinstein, pianist The Musician’s Way, p. 207 If you’ve read much about performing, then you’ve probably run into the terms “peak performance,” “flow,” and “being in the zone.” Those synonymous...
“Your artistic evolution is best served by steady, judicious practice.” -The Musician’s Way, p. 11 Consistent practice empowers us to become the artists we aspire to be. But skillful practice doesn’t just happen – we have to learn how to...
“Establish an honest dialogue with your teacher.” -Wynton Marsalis The Musician’s Way, p. 293 Vast numbers of students take music lessons, but I’ve observed that few speak authentically with their teachers. The following guidelines, adapted from...
“All musicians should be able to address audiences confidently.” –The Musician’s Way, p. 176 Speaking from the stage can powerfully enhance audience-performer rapport, provided that we musicians polish our public speaking skills. Here are six public...
“Your habits in the practice room make you the musician that you are.” -The Musician’s Way, p. 20 I’m pleased to present this guest post by Dr. Lisa Dawson of Indiana Weslyan University. -GK The Musician’s Way by Gerald Klickstein is being used by the Voice...
“Practice holds a place of honor in the life of a musician.” –The Musician’s Way, p. 4 All of us veteran musicians share the same twin aims when we practice: to polish our skills and prepare music for performances. We also know how to accomplish our goals efficiently....
