by Gerald Klickstein | Nov 13, 2009 | music education, music performance, music practice, performance anxiety, stage presence
We professional musicians love to share music with others. Whether we perform in concert halls, nightclubs, informal gatherings, or recording studios, our hard work is most rewarded when we connect with listeners. The majority of students, though, spend little time in...
by Gerald Klickstein | Feb 20, 2024 | music performance, performance anxiety, stage presence, The Musician's Way
“ Confident performance is not a fluke, but the product of imaginative and consistent synthesis of technical and emotional work. ” -Frank R. Wilson The Musician’s Way, p. 146 In a highlight of the 2024 Grammy Awards ceremony, singer-songwriter Tracy Chapman sang her...
by Gerald Klickstein | Jun 8, 2010 | music performance, performance anxiety, The Musician's Way
“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...
by Gerald Klickstein | Feb 24, 2022 | Newsletter
“As your performance abilities and coping skills grow, your confidence will become unshakable.” The Musician’s Way, p. 170 The Winter/Spring 2022 issue of The Musician’s Way Newsletter compiles resources tailored to novice and veteran musicians alike. From tips...
by Gerald Klickstein | Dec 18, 2018 | music performance, performance anxiety
“Confident performance is not a fluke, but the product of imaginative and consistent synthesis of technical and emotional work.” -Frank R. Wilson The Musician’s Way, p. 146 Musicians who grapple with performance nerves typically hear plenty of clichéd...
by Gerald Klickstein | Feb 11, 2026 | creative process, Entrepreneurship, music careers, music performance, The Musician's Way
“Music making is a never-ceasing process of change and progress.” –Jacqueline du Pré, cellist The Musician’s Way, p. 205 If you aspire to perform as an independent musician, whether solo or in small groups, this article will help you stay ahead of change and be...
by Gerald Klickstein | Nov 18, 2025 | Music Higher Education, music performance, music practice, The Musician's Way
“Wherever you hope to travel on your musical journey, practice is the only route to getting there.” The Musician’s Way – p. 3 People often refer to accomplished musicians as “talented,” but research shows that artistic and technical abilities...
by Gerald Klickstein | Apr 10, 2025 | creative process, music performance, music practice, The Musician's Way
“Beyond personal fulfillment, the decisive aim of practice is to prepare performances because, as an art form, music centers on the interaction between performer and listener.” -The Musician’s Way, p. 4 For vocalists and instrumentalists alike, music making cycles...
by Gerald Klickstein | Nov 3, 2024 | music education, music performance, performance anxiety, The Musician's Way
“Performance anxiety doesn’t yield to band-aid solutions, nor does it abate on its own.” -The Musician’s Way, p. 146 Camille was a 19-year-old amateur pianist who excelled in school but was petrified to play in public.* Her anxiety had surfaced in...
