by Gerald Klickstein | May 23, 2012 | music performance, music practice, performance anxiety, stage presence
“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...
by Gerald Klickstein | May 15, 2012 | creative process, Entrepreneurship, music careers, music education, Music Higher Education
“It is not enough to be industrious; so are the ants. What are you industrious about?” –Henry David Thoreau In a classic episode of the animated comedy South Park, the main characters track down a clan of gnomes who have been stealing the townspeople’s...
by Gerald Klickstein | Mar 26, 2012 | music performance, performance anxiety, stage presence
“If things get rocky, stay positive and engaged, and give your audience the best possible experience.” –The Musician’s Way, p. 189 Recall the last time that you were distracted during a performance: How did you cope? Onstage distractions are bound to...
by Gerald Klickstein | Feb 12, 2012 | Assessment, music performance, performance anxiety
“People have often said to me, ‘You’re so relaxed when you play.’ Relaxed my elbow. It’s practice.” –Benny Goodman, clarinetist The Musician’s Way, p. 199 It may seem that elite musicians like Benny Goodman excel on stage because...
by Gerald Klickstein | Jan 15, 2012 | music performance, performance anxiety
“No matter how much I rehearsed, I never felt ready for the stage. Instead, I felt like a deer stumbling into oncoming traffic on a dark road.” –Shannon Sexton, singer & writer The Musician’s Way, p. 140 I expect that every performer knows what it’s like to...
by Gerald Klickstein | Oct 9, 2011 | creative process, music performance, performance anxiety
“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...
by Gerald Klickstein | Aug 12, 2011 | creative process, creativity, music practice
“To achieve your musical potential, you have to commit to the creative process, take risks, and follow your heart.” –The Musician’s Way, p. 112 To gain a deeper understanding of something, it often helps to consider its opposite. So, in the interest of helping you...
by Gerald Klickstein | Jun 5, 2011 | music performance, performance anxiety, stage presence
“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...
by Gerald Klickstein | May 8, 2011 | creative process, creativity, music performance, music practice
“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...
