How to Clear Your Mind of Worries Before a Big Performance...

How to Clear Your Mind of Worries Before a Big Performance by Dr. Noa Kageyama

It’s 10 minutes before you walk on stage. You know you’re prepared, but there are people in the audience whose opinions mean a lot to you, and you’re playing some difficult repertoire. As the butterflies start swirling around in your tummy, what should you do? Is it better to stay relentlessly positive and write down all your good optimistic thoughts before walking on stage? Or is it better to be honest with yourself and write down all your negative thoughts and worries about the upcoming performance instead? How to Clear Your Mind of Worries Before a Big Performance by Dr. Noa Kageyama · 0 comments It’s 10 minutes before you walk on stage. You know you’re prepared, but there are people in the audience whose opinions mean a lot to you, and you’re playing some difficult repertoire. As the butterflies start swirling around in your tummy, what should you do? Is it better to stay relentlessly positive and write down all your good optimistic thoughts before walking on stage? Or is it better to be honest with yourself and write down all your negative thoughts and worries about the upcoming performance instead? Test anxiety The test anxiety literature provides some intriguing answers. Test anxiety? Yes, I know that taking a final exam in organic chemistry and playing in the finals of an orchestra audition are two very different tasks, but when it comes to our focus and attention, there are some key similarities. Recall that there are two broad categories of elements we can think about when we’re performing: 1.Task-relevant details that will help us play better (or in a testing situation, read/process the question, recall relevant info, and answer the question correctly) 2.Task-irrelevant details that lead us to play below our abilities (or worry about whether we know the answer or not, re-read the question multiple times without really reading it, freak out about failing the exam, and blank out on much of the information until we walk out of the test and suddenly remember all the right answers) As you probably can guess, our ability to focus on the things that are relevant and ignore the things that aren’t, is a critical skill that largely determines the quality of our performance.

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Tubas on the 'dark side'

Buffalo Philharmonic Fantasy Camp

BPO Fantasy Camp Saturday, July 21, 2012 Kleinhans Music Hall Adult amateur musicians are invited to apply for the BPO Fantasy Camp - a day at Kleinhans Music Hall, rehearsing and performing alongside the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. The day culminates in a side-by-side concert conducted by Maestro Matthew Kraemer. Included in the experience are sectional coaching sessions from members of the BPO, a behind-the-scenes tour of Kleinhans Music Hall and opportunities to get to know the musicians. Friends, family and community members are encouraged to come hear the final product at the end of this incredible day. -- Budtubamanbud@gmail.comhttp://www.youtube.com/user/BudLowerywww.budbrass.blogspot.comPrivate Instrumental Music Lessons:Beginning - Intermediate - Advanced 716.934.7734This message is intended only for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed, and may contain information that is privileged, confidential, boring, in bad taste and/or exempt from disclosure under applicable laws. If the reader of the message is not the intended recipient, or is in some way offended by the content of this email ... or you have received this communication in error, please notify me immediately by replying to this e-mail message so that I may ignore it. Thank you.. Kleinhans.jpg 53K View

The pain of the gig ...

OK ... the joke is you're the tubist in your brass quintet. You arrive at the wedding gig at the huge church and they tell you to set up in the hot, muggy balcony!

Brass Player's Shooting Gallery ...