Tips on Performing Your Music for Others

Home
>
Music & MP3
>
Tips on Performing Your Music for Others

Tips on Performing Your Music for Others

Have you ever dreamed of performing a piece you created for others. Imagining that they are captivated and held spellbound by the music? If you have, you know that it can be a long road from actually coming up with something, practicing it, and then giving it to an audience. In my own case, I had a good opportunity to perform. It was in a coffeehouse that already had a decent piano.

The problem was that I was playing for people who had come to listen mostly to guitarists on open mike night. Young guitarists that sang and played mostly Rock music or a derivative of it. I didn't care so much about that because I had the chance to go in front of people and share the gift of music.

In public speaking it's said that the fear of standing in front of a group of people and talking is caused by the anticipation of losing face - of looking or appearing like a fool. Now, some may be able to get up in front of a group and actually feel better than they felt before getting in front of people, but the reality is that 99% of us are going to feel some kind of anxiety.

There are two schools about stage fright. One school believes that you can completely rid yourself of it (extremely hard to do and a somewhat unrealistic). The other says that you can never fully conquer the fear but you can manage it and reduce it to a level where you can function and perform.

So far, I'm in the second group and I've learned a few techniques that allow me to perform well. One is that I practice enough to where I feel confident that I can perform above the normal level. The second technique is to accept the feelings of fear and reframe it into the emotion of excitement. In other words, I may be scared, but I'm also feeling excited. I focus on that part.

Most of the performance anxiety will dissipate soon after your performance begins anyway. It's usually the first 10 minutes or so when you're the most anxious. My goal when I get on stage is to focus on and enjoy the process of sharing the music with others. My focus is not on the audience.

The best performances occur when you can completely forget about the fact there are people listening. Then they can share in the magic that comes through you.

Edward Weiss is a pianist/composer and webmaster of Quiescence Music's online piano lessons. He has been helping students learn how to play piano in the New Age style for over 14 years and works with students in private, in groups, and now over the internet. Stop by now at http://www.quiescencemusic.com/piano_lesson s.html for a FREE piano lesson!

In The News:

Finding dark music in Max Payne's world
Los Angeles Times
(Ricardo DeAratanha, Los Angeles Times / May 14, 2012) By Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times "This is music for shootin' people in the face," jokes Jake Duzsik, lead singer of the experimental LA-based rock band Health as he listens to the single "Tears," ...

ITProPortal
Sony Brings Streaming Music Service to the IPhone
PCWorld
By Jay Alabaster, IDG News Sony on Friday released an iPhone app to access its streaming Music Unlimited service, part of its efforts to expand its online platforms to devices from rival manufacturers. The app allows users to listen to and manage ...
Sony Releases Music Unlimited App For IphoneWebProNews
Sony Music Unlimited Service Comes To iOSITProPortal
Since You Can't Beat Apple, Join Them: Sony Music Unlimited Bows iOS Apps On ...hypebot.com

all 27 news articles »

We Love DC
Arena Stage's 'Music Man'
Washington Post
Kate Baldwin's memorable Marian the Librarian draws us in to Arena Stage's endearingly melodic if unfortunately costumed revival of “The Music Man.” Marian Paroo (played by Kate Baldwin), left, and Amaryllis (played by Heidi Kaplan) perform a scene ...
Playhouse's 'Music Man' a square dealMerced Sun-Star

all 3 news articles »

A baritone's death, a band's reunion call up lifetime of musical memories
Chicago Sun-Times
But for years, they have topped my personal pantheon of musical gods, and both have been on my mind in recent days. The reunited Beach Boys were in town last week for two shows at the Chicago Theatre, and I was there, bopping along to the tunes that ...

and more »

Sony and Tivoli Intro Music Apps (Peacefully); Dish Network Feature Under Fire
Philadelphia Inquirer (blog)
Sony and Tivoli Audio have just introduced free (at least for a while) music streaming apps for the iPhone/iPod, But three broadcast networks yesterday filed suits against satellite TV provider Dish Network, to try and squash the "Auto Hop" feature on ...

and more »

Classical Music: SF Opera has'Attila' (and his ilk) and an eye-popping 'Magic ...
San Jose Mercury News
Kaneko's paintings at times start out as points of color placed atop the projection, which, in synch to the rhythms of the music, begin to extend into lines, forming geometric patterns to cover the background and create a dramatic frame for the singers ...

and more »

Dance That Looks Like Music Sounds: Hubbard Street's Alejandro Cerrudo
Huffington Post
One of his essential gifts, imperceptible to his audiences, is the intricate and profound way that he sees music. Hubbard Street Dancers Jacqueline Burnett and Jesse Bechard in Malditos by Alejandro Cerrudo. Photo by Todd Rosenberg In the past three ...

and more »

Crushable
Jay-Z Confirmed Music Chief for Willow Smith 'Annie' Remake
SPIN
by Marc Hogan Daddy Warbucks, the rumors are true: Jay-Z will be overseeing music for a remake of the musical Annie and will contribute original tracks. That's according to British actress Emma Thompson, who is writing the film, as she confirmed ...
Jay-Z writing music for 'Annie' remakeTheCelebrityCafe.com
Did Blue Ivy Inspire Jay-Z To Write New Music For The Annie Remake Starring ...Crushable
Jay-Z to Supervise Music for New Annie Movie Starring Willow SmithXXLMAG.COM
Vibe -Digital Spy UK -Gigwise
all 42 news articles »

Music Review: Samovar Russian Folk Music Ensemble - Around the Samovar ...
Seattle Post Intelligencer (blog)
ORG Around the Samovar is another hour-long set from the Russian folk music ensemble in the Washington, DC area that takes its name from the heated metal container traditionally used to heat and boil water in Russia, as well as in other locations.

and more »

Los Angeles Times
The Sunday Conversation: Pianist Mona Golabek holds on to the music
Los Angeles Times
The creator of the one-woman show 'The Pianist of Willesden Lane,' now at the Geffen Playhouse, reflects on the gift of music. Mona Gollabek's one-woman show 'The Pianist of Willesden Lane' is now at the Geffen Playhouse. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles ...

and more »

Google News