The Musician's Way Blog

“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 help dispel any nerves.

To transmit ease, though, we have to not only master our material and be fluent with stage deportment but also draw on the following inner skills.

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“We should welcome applause whenever it comes.”
– Emanuel Ax, pianist

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.

Still, countless people are baffled by the applause practices at classical performances to the point where they find concertgoing to be an awkward experience.

Here’s what President Obama had to say about this topic at a 2009 concert at the White House: Continue Reading

“The better you use yourself, the better you will play.”
–Pedro de Alcantara, cellist, author, and Alexander technique teacher (The Musician’s Way, p. 257)

Music making may be the most integrated of all human activities. It’s no exaggeration to say that singing or playing requires us to coordinate everything that we are – our bodies, minds, and spirits.

Often, however, the rigors of practice and performance cause us to use ourselves in ways that are less than optimal. Continue Reading

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 performance situations. By and large, they make music in practice rooms.

So, are music students typically acquiring the skills of expert performers? Continue Reading

Suppose that you’re preparing to play or sing in public. How do you bridge the gulf between personal practice and public performance?

I’ve observed that many musicians underperform because they omit a crucial element from their preparatory routines: practice performances.

Here are three ways that both instrumentalists and singers can practice performing and thereby become masterful on stage.

All of these concepts are expanded on in my book The Musician’s Way. Continue Reading

Envision yourself standing at a stage door, seconds before your entrance at a solo or small-group concert. The hall darkens; the audience hushes. A stagehand whispers, “Ready?”

Let’s stop here and give this scenario a closer look. The backstage scene probably resembles a cramped basement.

Glancing around, you see ductwork, circuit breakers, and music stands in racks. Your pupils are dilated in the murky light; a cooling system drones in the background. It’s decidedly unglamorous.

On the other side of that door, however, is an altogether different sort of space. Continue Reading