If Dr. Brown's quote above doesn't resonate, maybe you're playing it too safe in life. You're in the Comfort Hazard: failing to reach beyond your comfort zone, or worse, heading into a challenge completely unprepared. Time to get moving. At some point, those who accomplish their goals must throw caution to the wind, leave results behind, and focus hard on doing what they feel called to do in the way they've been called to do it, win or lose. Which feels risky. None of us can escape life's risks, and win. There isn't a golfer out there, even a Mickelson or Choi, who hasn't wound up in a hazard of some kind at the worst possible point in the game. How do some find the courage to dig out, and go on to win? Those who not only believe in what they're doing, but believe in themselves enough to stay in the game, figure out where they've gone wrong, and fix it. We can all be that person simply by reaching beyond what we feel comfortable doing, and working through the inevitable mistakes when they happen.
When working with muscles, as we lovers of brass playing do, patience is more than a virtue. I'm continually struck by the similarities between trumpet/brass instrument craftsmanship and athletic training. Giving in to our impulse towards quick results won't produce the distance nor results we desire. Marathon runners, for example, don't start training for a marathon the week before the event. Why do student trumpeters, and even those of us who should know better from having experienced the crushing failures of cramming, continue to make this particular mistake? I believe at the heart of the answer lies the belief that we either intrinsically have what it takes, or we don't, so why start so early to prepare? We need to recognize that playing even one solo or an audition is a marathon. If we expect to "have what it takes" at the time it's needed, we must prepare skillfully because marathons (and beautiful performances) aren't accomplished on a whim. Performance pressure warrants marathon status because of the mental, physical and emotional stress attendant upon public performance. The excitement and the pressure require that we have 1) a thorough physical foundation upon which to perform, as well as 2) a well developed understanding of the historical context of the music, with the technical foundation to match.
1) Such a physical and technical foundation takes time to build. If we start early enough ahead of the audition or performance, we won't be rushed into tensing up, or into forcing, or into faking our way through difficult passages. We can take our time, and let the muscles and mind gradually strengthen to meet the demands of the music. We must give ourselves permission to "neglect" some of the details. For example, playing through passages slowly and softly to understand where the challenges are, and to play with ease demands that we leave off dynamics, articulation, and tempo markings for a time. If we discipline ourselves, we can do this. The reward is such that not only will we have the emotional expression needed to communicate a strong message, but our technical limitations will not get in the way of that message. Technical demands, when not properly addressed, detract from music's ultimate aim. Technical demands must be so well in hand that they don't interfere with musical expression. For demanding areas, try working backwards from the difficult passage. Isolate a short segment which represents the greatest challenge. Play that segment four times in a row with each time being acceptable on one identified parameter. Then move back a measure and play the two together. Only add measures as each group is successful. When the isolated area weakens, return to playing it alone four times in a row until it can be incorporated in larger and larger sections. Such an approach increases confidence in performance by smoothing out our technique as well as our own emotional reaction to difficulties, and allows us freedom from inhibition or fear. |
GlendaI'm a trumpet player and music teacher aiming in this blog to help other Trumpeters, Music Enthusiasts, Music Educators, and aspiring professionals reach their highest potential in life through the study and cultivation of musical skills. Music Education
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