“Your central tasks are finding inner peace and strength, on the one hand, and being very well-prepared for your performances, on the other.” -Eric Maisel, author & psychologist The Musician’s Way, p. 146 In my previous post, “The 3 Roots of Performance...
“Artistic performers are prepared performers.” -The Musician’s Way, p. 155 Imagine that you’re backstage, minutes before the start of a concert: Are you feeling confident, or are you worried that things could go awry? Unlike less-experienced...
“At each concert, music is created anew, according to a performer’s imagination.” –The Musician’s Way, p. 112 Whenever we perform, we aim for that “in-the-moment” feeling. We strive to immerse ourselves and our listeners in the emotion of the music. Yet although...
“I will cast this spell: I know I can open this door and show you something unforgettable and transforming, and I’m determined to take myself there and to take you with me.” –Jeffrey Kahane, pianist The Musician’s Way, p. 177 When was the last time that you cast a...
“I get an audience involved because I’m involved myself. If the song is a lament at the loss of love, I get an ache in my gut. . . . I cry out the loneliness.” –Frank Sinatra The Musician’s Way, p. 188 Some concerts provoke such deep feelings that audiences...
“The key to harnessing on-stage energy is to use it for music-making purposes” –The Musician’s Way, p. 186 Let’s say that you’re walking on stage to begin a performance. Your heart’s beating somewhat fast and your hands feel cool; maybe your mouth turns dry. Are you...
“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...
“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...
“We should welcome applause whenever it comes.” –Emanuel Ax, pianist The Musician’s Way, p. 183 Should audiences at classical concerts only applaud according to strict rules of etiquette? I’d say no. Listeners should applaud when they feel like it. Nonetheless,...
