Above and Beyond

Performance Preparation Tips
It's recital week! Since I'm a little crunched for time, I'll keep this short and sweet.

Here are a few things that may or may not be obvious to do when you're getting ready for a recital, audition, or other performance. These are things above and beyond what most people consider "good practice habits." I didn’t describe some of the items on the list because there’s a lot of information available on the internet if you just search. Enjoy!

1. Record yourself
2. Listen to the recordings and take notes

• Make copies of the parts you're recording
• When you listen to the recording, mark-up the copies
• After you listen and make the mark-up you have a to-do list consisting of the errors you noticed in the recording
• Correct the errors and repeat the process
• Any mistakes you make in the second recording that were also on the first are things that need to be prioritized

1. Play for as many people as you can and get feedback from them

• Your lesson teacher
• Your band director
• Friends
• Family
• People on the street
• And your little dog too!
• If you want written feedback print copies of the Mock Performance Form

1. Plan performance-day well in advance

• What will you wear?
• What will you eat?
• When will you wake up?
• What snacks will you take? (I know, that's two about food)
• When will you eat the snack and how will that affect your playing?
• When will you arrive at the venue?
• What will you do once you get there?
• If it's an audition, will you talk to others or avoid them? (I recommend avoiding them, especially if it’s an audition, but I’m somewhat antisocial anyway)
• How much will you play before showtime?
• What will you do to warm up?

1. Nerve proofing

• Once you’ve got your performance repertoire where you think it’s performance-ready, slow the tempo down to 90% and take the volume down two levels
• Play through the piece/excerpt/etude a few times and make sure that it’s exactly as you want to perform it when it’s showtime.
• Repeat at 95% and only one dynamic level lower than written
• Repeat at 100% at full-volume
• Repeat at 105% at volume +one
• Repeat at 110% at volume +2
• Repeat at 115% at volume +3
• If you can do this, you can handle anything nervous energy will throw at you

1. Mindful Meditation (see Google for more info)
2. Visual imagery (see Google for more info)

Wow, that ended up being not so short, but still kinda sweet. Thank you again and happy practicing!

Thank you for reading!