St George Chapter – UMTA/MTNA
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Rosemary Olsen came down from Salt Lake City to present “Performing strategies that address Performance Anxiety”.
She listed the physical awareness that must be accounted for when performing: Sense of key weight and depth (the problem of playing on an ‘unfamiliar’ piano); Bench height; responsiveness of the key action; Awareness of Physical Surroundings; Lighting and sound; Aliveness of the room; and Wardrobe malfunctions.
The Five Pillars of Learning:
Visual – written, keyboard, hands
Aural – sound of music, sound of internal voice
Kinesthetic – muscle memory, movement of arms and hands
Theoretical – understanding the form and harmony of the piece
Emotional – response to difficulties
“Don’t practice in the Panic; it will come on its own.”
Benjamin Zander in The Art of Possibility said to exclaim whenever a student makes a mistake “How Fascinating!” Do not develop negative emotions. By depriving your internal thoughts of their emotional intensity you detoxify their effect on you.
Various relaxation techniques and tools were described. The Alexander Technique was one such process.
Books suggested: “With Your Own Two Hands” – Seymour Bernstein
“The Art of Practicing: A Guide to Making Music from the Heart” – Madeline Bruser
“Passionate Practice: The Musician’s Guide to Learning, Memorizing and Performing” – Margret Elson
“Performing in the Zone: Unleash Your True Performing Potential” – Jon Gorrie
“The Art of Piano Playing: A Scientific Approach” – George Kochevitsky
“The Art of Possibility” – Benjamin Zander
Conclusion: “Our need to give is as strong as our need to receive. We are given life and music, and the richer we feel with these gifts, the more we want to share them with others. Performing, a form of sharing, multiplies our gifts by transforming us and enriching our audience at the same time. This is our work and our celebration.” Madeline Bruser
