Performance Thoughts

I thought I would talk about performing for a moment.

Performance is different from sitting in your home and playing. At home, you are free to  enjoy, make mistakes, experiment, think about other things while you play; because no one is listening. But not in a performance. No freedom to let your mind wander while you play or make mistakes, or to dramatically experiment with ideas because you know you can go back and do it again. The result is great stress in a performance.

Here is what performers do in their practice time: Decide what the piece should sound like and then practice that right performance over and over again.

Here is another thing that I heard John Cleese say that I thought was very true. Fear and performance anxiety happen because you are, “Being more concerned with being bad than with being great.”

Easy to say, hard to overcome. But perfect practice will give a performer strength and very much security, so practice a lot!

Have a wonderful day! 

Mr. Slaughter