The Musician's Way Blog

“It’s your internal motivation that opens the creative spigot.”
-The Musician’s Way, p. 105

Those of us who create day after day know that things don’t always go smoothly. Sometimes our work flows; other times difficulties slow us down.

But whether we’re dealing with good days or not, one simple practice helps keep our creativity rolling. Continue Reading

Mindfulness Gives Performers an Edge

Those of us who watched the 2012 Olympics witnessed some athletes who triumphed and others who choked under the stress of performing.

What differentiates those two groups? Continue Reading

Claudio Arrau

“I don’t say that I never feel fear before a performance,
but I have learned to channel it.”
–Claudio Arrau, pianist (The Musician’s Way, p. 162)

Imagine that you’re arriving at a venue 90 minutes before you’ll perform.

You have to set up the stage, check the lighting and sound, confer with technical staff, warm up, and change clothing.

How do you carry out all of those tasks and still prepare to give an inspired show? Continue Reading

“To be on stage is to be in charge.”
–The Musician’s Way, p. 179

Take a moment to recall the stage presence of some memorable soloists: Don’t they convey a sense of authenticity and enjoyment?

It may seem that stage presence would be akin to personality – largely inborn. In fact, projecting a commanding presence involves skills that any musician can learn. Continue Reading

“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 could. Continue Reading

Benny Goodman & Ella Fitzgerald

“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 of inborn traits.

But despite any genetic factors that might affect our musical potential, the mastery that experts display under pressure actually results from their having amassed specific performance skills. Continue Reading

“Your central tasks are finding inner peace and strength, on the one hand,
and being very well-prepared for your performances, on the other.”
Eric Maisel, author & psychologist (The Musician’s Way, p. 146)

In my previous post, “The 3 Roots of Performance Anxiety,” I classified the causes of stage nerves as personal, task-related, or situational.

Here, I point to ways in which we can address those causes and become joyful, artistic performers. Continue Reading

“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 feel nervous at a show or an audition.

Still, whether we deal with mild uneasiness or debilitating fear, by taking steps to understand the causes of stage fright and acquire countermeasures, all of us can become more capable performers. Continue Reading

“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 musicians, who are often jittery at shows, we veterans approach the stage with enthusiasm because we have a trick up our sleeves. Continue Reading

“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 spell from the stage?

If it’s been a while, take heart: I’ve found that nearly all musicians can learn to deliver spellbinding performances, but they first need to build up their stage power.

Continue Reading