Yes. I'm a big believer in spending a good amount of time working out how to get into the right mental state BEFORE you start to play. Typically you've got more control over the process at that point - and more time to adjust if needed (once you've started you've pretty much got to keep going). It's relatively easy to stay on the rails if you start out well... Much harder to get back to a good place if you start off on the wrong foot.
playinthezone.com/performance-vs-practice-mindset/ playinthezone.com/pre-performance-routine/ "Use the “Tetris Effect” to enjoy playing music more" on TH-cam th-cam.com/video/Jv4zWg8eqEs/w-d-xo.html "The #1 key to playing music in The Zone (out of 9 effective strategies)" on TH-cam th-cam.com/video/jqHZaCjJSG8/w-d-xo.html "How to turbocharge your progress by using feedback properly" on TH-cam th-cam.com/video/iOxSTkgYQkg/w-d-xo.html
Stumbled upon this video and it was very helpful. I'm horrible about getting down while playing or recording, and start picking on myself. I get discouraged very easily, even in practicing.
Glad it helped! It's really common to get hit by things that discourage you. In fact, it's almost impossible to avoid it. The people who deal well with this aren't the ones who never have the problem in the first place. They're the ones who catch it early and have an effective response to it.
What exactly do you do that you define as making a mess. Be as specific as you can and as comprehensive as you can. If I was watching you what might I see, what might I hear and how might I feel from watching you. Are you OK taking your place before you play a noté even just for example. Thinking about those things might help. If it doesn't maybe use video so you can watch both scenarios from a distance.
Good suggestions from Jennifer already. I'd suggest two things: 1) Check how you're viewing this. When you say "Put me in front of people and I make a mess of it" that suggests it happens EVERY time and that it's a fixed characteristic. I'm sure that's not true. Change the story to something more helpful - e.g. "In the past, I've often messed things up when playing in front of people" (this way of saying the same thing makes clear that it doesn't happen every time. And that it might change in the future) 2) Put yourself in conditions where you have the best chance of success and build up in difficulty from there. E.g. start off by practising this in front of one friend playing a really easy piece. When you feel more confident with that, then step up to a bigger "challenge". This way you're gaining confidence every step of the way - over time, you'll gradually feel confident in the big goal you're aiming for.
Mark. I have passed on your info to another beginner player who like me plays poorly in front of people. A Questn. Do you have a video on pre performance script to get into that zone. Prior to playing ?
Thanks for passing this on to others. I appreciate it! Not sure there's a video specifically on pre-performance routine. Check out this article, though: playinthezone.com/pre-performance-routine/
WATCH NEXT: Sherlock Holmes music practice method - th-cam.com/video/OfmWUneOOtg/w-d-xo.html
Very constructive advice. My first note was always the challenge, especially if a solo start to the whole concert
Yes. I'm a big believer in spending a good amount of time working out how to get into the right mental state BEFORE you start to play. Typically you've got more control over the process at that point - and more time to adjust if needed (once you've started you've pretty much got to keep going). It's relatively easy to stay on the rails if you start out well... Much harder to get back to a good place if you start off on the wrong foot.
Mark do you have a video on pre performance script to get into that zone ?
playinthezone.com/performance-vs-practice-mindset/
playinthezone.com/pre-performance-routine/
"Use the “Tetris Effect” to enjoy playing music more" on TH-cam
th-cam.com/video/Jv4zWg8eqEs/w-d-xo.html
"The #1 key to playing music in The Zone (out of 9 effective strategies)" on TH-cam
th-cam.com/video/jqHZaCjJSG8/w-d-xo.html
"How to turbocharge your progress by using feedback properly" on TH-cam
th-cam.com/video/iOxSTkgYQkg/w-d-xo.html
Make it a sweet single opening note !
Stumbled upon this video and it was very helpful. I'm horrible about getting down while playing or recording, and start picking on myself. I get discouraged very easily, even in practicing.
Glad it helped! It's really common to get hit by things that discourage you. In fact, it's almost impossible to avoid it. The people who deal well with this aren't the ones who never have the problem in the first place. They're the ones who catch it early and have an effective response to it.
EXCELLENT
Very Practical. I get into the Zone when on my one and alone. Put me in front of people and I make a mess of it. Any suggestions ?
What exactly do you do that you define as making a mess. Be as specific as you can and as comprehensive as you can. If I was watching you what might I see, what might I hear and how might I feel from watching you. Are you OK taking your place before you play a noté even just for example. Thinking about those things might help. If it doesn't maybe use video so you can watch both scenarios from a distance.
Good suggestions from Jennifer already. I'd suggest two things:
1) Check how you're viewing this. When you say "Put me in front of people and I make a mess of it" that suggests it happens EVERY time and that it's a fixed characteristic. I'm sure that's not true. Change the story to something more helpful - e.g. "In the past, I've often messed things up when playing in front of people" (this way of saying the same thing makes clear that it doesn't happen every time. And that it might change in the future)
2) Put yourself in conditions where you have the best chance of success and build up in difficulty from there. E.g. start off by practising this in front of one friend playing a really easy piece. When you feel more confident with that, then step up to a bigger "challenge". This way you're gaining confidence every step of the way - over time, you'll gradually feel confident in the big goal you're aiming for.
Mark. I have passed on your info to another beginner player who like me plays poorly in front of people.
A Questn. Do you have a video on pre performance script to get into that zone. Prior to playing ?
Thanks for passing this on to others. I appreciate it!
Not sure there's a video specifically on pre-performance routine. Check out this article, though: playinthezone.com/pre-performance-routine/