Yesterday, I posted about making mistakes in performance. It's something that I've talked about quite a bit recently with other musicians and teachers on various social media platforms. One thing I kept saying was that mistakes don't make a successful performance. A successful performance is one that speaks to your audience. I've been thinking about that, and for a very important reason, that idea needs to be expounded upon.
Your performance always speaks to your audience.
Saying that a successful performance is one that speaks to your audience is definitely too broad. I've seen performances that scream, "I DON'T WANT TO BE HERE!", or, "I'M SCARED TO DEATH!". I've heard a normally charming, elegant Mozart sonata that seemed to be warning me of impending death by hailstorm. We've probably all seen performances of very demanding pieces that end up seeming like a commercial for tendinitis or carpal tunnel syndrome. Yes, our performances always say something, but it's not always the right something.
I'm working on updating my statement to something like this. "A successful performance is not determined by the amount of correct notes, but rather upon the achievement of communicating to your audience your confidence as a performer, the intentions of the composer, and the message that you feel should be delivered." It could probably still use some tweaking, but I would happy if all of my students went into performance with this goal in mind. Is there anything that you would add or take away?
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Victor AndzulisChrist Follower, Husband, Classical Musician, Professor, Collaborative Pianist, and Violist in Williamsburg, KY. Archives
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