“You can control your performance but not the result of an audition or a competition.” –The Musician’s Way, p. 221 Whenever you audition or compete, you offer yourself up for criticism. That criticism may be overt, as when judges provide comments, or it may be...
“The wise musicians are those who play what they can master.” -Duke Ellington The Musician’s Way, p. 14 We veteran musicians know that our creativity blossoms when we perform music that fits our style and technique. Students, though, often attempt to...
“You must start well, and you must end well. What is in the middle is not so important because no one is listening then.” –Maurice Chevalier, singer & actor The Musician’s Way, p. 180 I chuckle every time I read Chevalier’s words, but they...
“To be on stage is to be in charge.” –The Musician’s Way, p. 179 Take a moment to recall the stage presence of some memorable soloists: Don’t they convey authenticity and enjoyment? Authenticity and enjoyment are common features of commanding performers, so it...
“Display confident body language, come what may.” –The Musician’s Way, p. 194 Are you confident in your ability to deal with on-stage mistakes? I’ve found that rising musicians seldom practice handling errors, so they typically don’t manage them as gracefully as they...
