Close-up of violinist playing“You must start well, and you must end well. What is in the middle is not so important because no one is listening then.”
–Maurice Chevalier, singer & actor
The Musician’s Way, p. 180

I chuckle every time I read Chevalier’s words, but they aren’t intended solely in jest.

The start and finish of performances truly are vital moments in which music blossoms into and then fades out of existence.

The Magic and Challenge of Beginnings

At the outset of a performance, we start from a primordial silence and then lead our listeners into a dreamscape.

It’s a magical moment, but it can also be tricky to pull off because we have to capture the mood, style, and tempo regardless of how we feel or what sort of performance situation we’re dealing with.

Every one of us, therefore, needs a dependable routine for launching initial phrases.

Here’s the most powerful one I know, which I developed during decades of teaching and describe in detail on pages 180-182 of The Musician’s Way.

“At the outset of a performance, we start from a primordial silence and then lead our listeners into a dreamscape.”

Launching the First Phrase

1. Center

When we center, we bring ourselves into focus, letting useless thoughts and tensions drop away.

We breathe deeply into the abdomen, lengthen the spine, and go to a place of inner silence.

2. Connect

From that quiet center, we mentally connect with the music we’re about to perform.

We sense the sound and sensations of the opening phrase, soak up the mood and tempo, and take on the character of the music.

3. Count

Having internalized the mood and tempo, and with the pulse coursing through us, we instrumentalists bring our hands or instruments into playing position; co-performers make eye contact.

Next, we transform that internal pulse into an expressive count (“2, 3, 4…”), cue the beginning, and, in the next step, fill the air with music.

4. Begin

As we begin to play or sing, we not only immerse ourselves in the music but also heighten our awareness, especially in high-stakes situations or if we’re buzzing with adrenaline.The Musician's Way book cover

We both emote and control, ensuring that we and our listeners enjoy a smooth launch.

*  *  *

Veterans performers will center, connect, count, and begin in about 10-15 seconds.

Students, though, often do well to take more time to breathe away any jitters and securely establish the mood and tempo.

Most of all, students should consistently use launching routines during practice so that they instill the habits needed to start pieces securely under pressure – and teachers should reinforce those same habits in lessons.

See Chapters 7-11 of The Musician’s Way for in-depth guidelines to start and end pieces in performance, harness on-stage energy, overcome performance nerves, and much more.

Related posts
Awareness, Focus, Concentration
The Centered Performer
Practicing Performance
Projecting Ease

© 2012 Gerald Klickstein
Photo © Remy Musser, licensed from Shutterstock.com