Sunday, February 9, 2025 by Kerry Anderson | Uncategorized

Our workshop series and annual concerts are an important part of what we offer as a community.  They are part of your subscription, so I thought it appropriate to share with those who couldn't attend this weekend, exactly what we covered.

Introduction:

After a big welcome I was quick to reinforce that finished works was not the main goal of the workshops this weekend.  In this context slips and errors teach us, and therefore serve a valuable function.

     "I've missed more than 9,000 shots in my career.  I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life.  And that is why I succeed."  Michael Jordan, champion Basket Ball Player - Chicago Bulls, USA

Instead it was a group session to allow students to practise walking to the centre state, speaking slowly and clearly and navigating their way to the piano or their guitar stand and stool.    What's so hard about that?  

Tackling Nerves 

Breath

The students were taught an exercise in breathing that signals the parasympathetic nervous system to enter a state of rest, thus settling the nerves.

Self-talk

We had a fruitful discussion about self talk to sooth the thoughts that may be fueling the fight-flight response to playing for a group.  Even the most seasoned performers describe nerves prior to performing so we don't aim to eliminate them, however we don't want them to sabotage the task ahead either.  The performers were asked to suggest statements they might say to a friend who was anxious about an event, a meeting, an exam...here's a few examples of what they came up with:

Don't worry, it'll be fine!

You've got this!

The audience want you to do well!

Have fun, enjoy it, you've done the work!

My personal favourite is an all-purpose affirmation.  Good for an assortment of life's challenges:  'Everything is working out for my highest good, all is well, I am safe' - Louise Hay

The students were taught to be their own best friend and offer the comfort to themselves!

How to walk and talk with confidence?

The students then got a chance to walk to the stage area, speak slowly and clearly, and then approach their performing seat with ease and flow.  I suggested walking tall, 'like you're the CEO. Like you own the room -  move slowly, because it will calm you.'

This is where the benefit of these workshops really becomes apparent.  You have to actively do it in front of an audience - a few times - to master it.  Interestingly, some students were still bonded to the actual playing when, in fact, I was more interested in how they spoke, and moved.  A good teacher will stop you, and ask you to try again but a little slower etc.  

An effective public speaker will pause frequently to allow the listener to absorb the information.  A good rule of thumb is to announce Name - pause - the title of the piece - pause - the composer's name.

Starting and finishing

We then talked about poise before you start to play.  Students were asked to check the stool height;  to have hands in position, to hear the first bar inside their heads before commencing.

AND...

Please to let the audience enjoy the final cadence. Almost all students failed to allow a few seconds after their final chord or note to just be there and allow the audience time to realise that you have finished playing - this is a very cool flourish!  

AND

acknowledge the response of your audience with a tidy bow of the head from a standing posture, not while walking away from the audience.  

Some inspiration...

I showed a short clip of concert pianist Vincent Paul Billington with his little toddler son next to him, able to identify all of the works his Daddy had rehearsed at home.  The point was that young performers can learn a great deal by listening to recordings of concert pianists at home.  What we hear can teach us a great deal.

I also shared a YouTube video of a masterclass given by Lang Lang, the Chinese concert pianist, featuring a 12 year old Irish student performing a nocturne by John Field in a masterclass setting.  Lang Lang was interesting to watch when coaching her.  

Our final workshop was almost all drumming students and Keith suggested an hilarious clip from the Muppets showing Animal the drummer accompanying  Rita Moreno as she tried to sing Fever... the message to his students being to stress the importance of listening when you play in a band!

A big thank you to the tutors who were able to attend and support their students this weekend.  I hope to see more students attending the next workshop.

Happy practising ♫♬

Kerry Anderson

School Director