Royce Faina

Performance Mistakes, Just Barking Dogs.

May 21, 2012 08:18

From the day of my first recital when I was five years old to today I still get very, very nervous. Having a nervous/anxiety disorder 'does' compound things but with playing an instrument (this includes singing... the voice is an instrument too :oD) as a love & passion I have acquired many tools of life to keep a conflagration from 'consuming' me to the point of leaving me as a heap of ash to a fire that refines and that depends on the materials I have built with. Paper or wood? Or Gold and silver?
So... I have given my teacher my undivided attention, I practiced (scales, ettudes, music) dress rehersal; both home & stage. Visualization technique(s) to prepare & focus both mind and soul, be teachable which means accept constructive counsel & critique and apply it, etc. I have built this days performance with the best materials I could use.... but what about making a mistake? What "IF" I do that tricky part and I mess it up?..... "IF".
Part of the mental preperation I mentioned earlier reminds me that "IF" will always be with me, as a matter of fact it is in the center of life (there it is! L,"IF",E) "IF" is a thought... not a fact! In a recent blog Laurie guided a student's thoughts having her focuss on success over failure. Just as we can set ourselves up for what we call a "Self Fulfilling Prophesy" by allowing negative thinking sabatage us we can over come much by the reminding and focussing our thoughts that we actualy do things good and succeed! So what about making mistakes durring a performance? Never give away your mistakes. When & "IF" you make one do what you can to not even flinch, most audiences will not catch it.
Being imperfect we will make mistakes on stage and LIFE is a stage we perform on every day. We strive for perfection yet we'll settle with excellence. The thing is... overly concerned about 'every' mistake that 'could' happen can be like trying to kick every barking dog we encounter on our walk on life's road. If we try to do that we wont go very far. That saying is true whether it be a mistake or a critic. Just keep on walking, smell the roses and enjoy life! Here I am audience, and life is good!

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Royce Faina

Performance Mistakes, Just Barking Dogs.

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