If you struggle with nerves and inconsistent performances, know that you’re not alone! Join 45,000+ musicians and receive weekly research-based practice tips that will help you get more out of your daily practice and perform more like yourself when it counts.
Menahem Pressler: On Following Your Heart
Have you ever watched your favorite musician perform, and wondered what goes through their head on stage?
Like, what are they thinking about? Do they ever worry? What do they worry about? Is playing as easy as it looks? Or do they have bad days too? Does it ever get easier? How do they deal with criticism or bad reviews or even the critic in their own head? How similar is their experience in performance to ours?
As you've probably already heard, renowned pianist Menahem Pressler passed away last weekend at the age of 99. A founding member of the Beaux Arts Trio, his performing career spanned seven-plus decades, and he also taught generations of pianists who have gone on to hold teaching positions around the world and win prizes in all of the major competitions.
I got to know Mr. Pressler a tiny bit during my time at Indiana University, as he was my wife's teacher, and kindly included me in studio parties and events. He was also curious and encouraging of my interests in psychology at a time when I had no idea how things would pan out, which I always appreciated.
So in the summer of 2012, I reached out to see if I might ask him some questions about practicing and performing. He was very open about his mental experience on stage, his own doubts and fears at various points in his life, and what success and failure meant to him, as well as the more practical aspects of how he prepares for performance.
I hope you find it as insightful and inspiring a conversation as I did.
Menahem Pressler: On Following Your Heart
-Noa
A couple things from the archives
- Do you enjoy watching videos of your favorite performers? Turns out "observational practice" is actually a thing, and can enhance learning - if you do it right. More details on how to make the most of this here.
- If you've ever found yourself spiraling mentally backstage before an audition or performance, you know the mind can be our worst enemy at times. What do the most effective performers do backstage to stay in a good headspace? Four things in particular, according to this study.
Deep thought o' the week
"Nothing in the world is permanent, and we're foolish when we ask anything to last, but surely we're still more foolish not to take delight in it while we have it. If change is of the essence of existence one would have thought it only sensible to make it the premise of our philosophy."
-W. Somerset Maugham, writer
The Bulletproof Musician
If you struggle with nerves and inconsistent performances, know that you’re not alone! Join 45,000+ musicians and receive weekly research-based practice tips that will help you get more out of your daily practice and perform more like yourself when it counts.
Have you ever studied with a teacher who asked you to sing in a lesson?There are lots of reasons for this, but aside from doing it in lessons when my teacher asked me to, I never integrated any singing into my daily practice. It felt really awkward, even if nobody was listening, and I wasn't entirely sold on the benefits at the time.Looking back, of course, I would have given it more of a chance. So in case you need a little help convincing yourself, I thought I'd share a 2017 study and 2021...
Before we get to today's practice tip on optimizing the "post-KR delay," a quick reminder that today is the last day to enroll in the live 2-week Performance Psych Essentials class that begins on Tuesday, June 13th. It's going to be a jam-packed two weeks of practice hacks and performance practice. If that sounds like fun, you can get all the details here: Join Psych Essentials Cohort 13 Longer pauses? Now to this business of the post-KR delay. What's that exactly? Well, if you ever get a...
I have a couple things today - a new podcast episode on the "dark side" of competitions, plus an announcement. Announcement The announcement is that registration for the summer “bootcamp” edition of the live Performance Psych Essentials class opens today. Instead of the typical 5-week schedule, I've designed an accelerated 2-week version to minimize conflicts with your summer plans. You can get all the details and sign up here: Performance Psych Essentials - Cohort 13 Are competitions good or...