“Before you play, you must prepare your way.” Stéphane Grappelli, violinist The Musician’s Way, p. 157 In my previous post, “The Preparation Timeline,” I contended that when we book a performance, an audition, or a recording session, a written timeline...
“The mind always has to anticipate the physical action that is to be taken and then to send the command for its execution.” –Ivan Galamian, violin teacher The Musician’s Way, p. 48 Of all the skills required to perform music, one of the most vital ones is also the...
“Our object is to minimize the contrast between studio practice and public performance.” –Philip Farkas, hornist The Art of Musicianship, p. 48 When you start practicing an unfamiliar piece, does your learning process go smoothly and then culminate in secure,...
“When you project a centered presence from the stage, your audience becomes attentive and relaxed.” –The Musician’s Way, p. 180 To make our best music, we performers need to be mentally, physically, and emotionally in sync. In a word: centered. Then, assuming...
“We have something that is unique. We have our craft. We have our art. We have our desire.”* –Branford Marsalis, saxophonist Craft, art, desire. Add persistent hard work, and what do you get? Artistic and professional success. Why is it, then, that some students who...
“Masterful performers exhibit ease in all that they do on stage.” –The Musician’s Way, p. 21 There’s no better way for us musicians to make our audiences receptive than to project ease and enjoyment from the stage. What’s more, by embodying ease, we facilitate...
“Confident performance isn’t an elusive feat but involves knowledge and skills that any musician can learn.” –The Musician’s Way, p. 133 When I talk to musicians who wrestle with stage nerves, I find that many hold a common belief. They think that they lack a trait...
“You must play for the love of music. Perfect technique is not as important as making music from the heart.” –Mstislav Rostropovich, cellist/conductor The Musician’s Way, p. 133 To practice music is to pursue perfection – or so we often hear. What nonsense. Rather, we...
“2-to-1 breathing helps reduce, coordinate, and stabilize the activity of the brain and the nervous system.” –John Clarke, M.D., former Chairman of the Himalayan Institute If we feel unsettled prior to playing or singing, 2-to-1 breathing is a powerful technique that...
