“When you don’t transmit irritation from mechanical breakdowns, an audience finds them interesting and even amusing.” –The Musician’s Way, p. 195 Thorough preparation underpins every successful performance. But even when we’re fully geared up...
“When I finally saw how I looked, I realized that I was distracting the audience from the music.” -Alfred Brendel, pianist The Musician’s Way, p. 171 Imagine standing backstage prior to your entrance at the start of a concert: as the house lights dim, the...
“You take control of yourself, your material, and the situation, and then listeners place themselves willingly in your hands.” –The Musician’s Way, p. 179 Performing arts reach their zenith in the magical interaction between artist and audience. It’s crucial,...
“As you perform, radiate the character of a composition.” –The Musician’s Way, p. 189 I’ve attended thousands of classical concerts, and despite my love of the music, I have to admit that fewer than 10% of those concerts were wholly or mostly enjoyable....
“Elevate both your music making and your confidence to the highest possible levels.” –The Musician’s Way, p. 201 Rising performers who put on their own public concerts reap numerous benefits. They advance their careers, polish their artistic identities, refine their...