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We, classical pianists – and I think all performing artists – are brought up to be overcritical. Ours is a culture of perfectionism. So, it is rare to walk off-stage after a performance, feeling so good about how much you got to wholeheartedly express yourself through the pieces, feeling so perfectly connected – heard\/understood\/appreciated – to each member of the audience. That was the case last night. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to remind myself how I prepared for this particular performance, unsure whether I’d be ready enough in time. It had been a few weeks, where I’d played a straight solo concert, all by myself, for over an hour. It had been a few month since I tried a new piece I’d never played in front of an audience, that I’d learned recently. So, what worked? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- I’ve been practicing three hours a day, with a timer, since the New Year. My first time with this level of consistent practicing<\/strong> in 7+ years. Not just the repertoire I played last night, but still, the consistency in my practice made my brain and body better oriented to playing the piano. <\/li>
- In addition, I’ve been keeping a practice journal<\/strong> – something I’ve never done in my life. It makes my practicing more focused on goals and ideals. And I like the physical aspects of writing with a pen on a paper. <\/li>
- Because I am more physically fit than I ever was when I did practice consistently, I am now able to connect my piano playing to my core strength, using bigger muscles, with a lower center of gravity<\/strong>. This grounds not only my physical act of playing, but also my sense of rhythm and musical direction\/structure. I sit up taller, and it literally gives me a whole new musical perspective. <\/li>
- I realized that the intention of a performer is A LOT more communicative than the actual execution<\/strong>. IF the intention is there, every with a missed notes, or even a whole entire missed passage, the musical passion and the ultimate message, gets transmitted. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Here is a video, not from the concert I am writing about today, but nevertheless a performance I felt the rapport with the audience with. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- In addition, I’ve been keeping a practice journal<\/strong> – something I’ve never done in my life. It makes my practicing more focused on goals and ideals. And I like the physical aspects of writing with a pen on a paper. <\/li>