sig -> RE: Mindtalk (Nov. 9 2015 14:38:06)
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I've developed some tricks to focus my mind on staying in the moment so to speak. Two things have helped, one I've found helpful is to practice like you are performing, in other words, don't stop and fix mistakes. Set aside a specific time to play like you are performing, ignore the mistakes and keep going. Go back later and work on the tricky bits rather than during your "performance". Here's another trick I do, I grab my guitar, sit down, focus on one part of my instrument, take a deep breath and as I exhale, I simply repeat the following phrase: "play beautifully" to myself. I also create an audience in my minds eye and anytime I feel a touch of nerves or stress, I simply repeat the phrase, "play beautifully". Here's an excerpt from an article I read a number of years ago that I thought made sense as its about changing a mindset: "In the end, it's all about the music. It’s not about you or me really. As musicians we are the real instruments from which music flows. The instruments we play are merely extensions of our beings. When you play for others, you are a “giver”. When was the last time you ever felt nervous or afraid of doing something nice for someone else? If you hold the door open for a little old lady do you feel nervous or afraid? When you donate money to a charity, do you experience fear or self doubt about that? When you give your time to someone who needs help, do you feel nervous about that? Playing music should be no different. Don’t think of yourself as an Olympic competitor that must perform perfectly to win a gold medal. Don’t think you have disappointed the entire human race if you make a mistake or if the crowd doesn’t like your concert. If you think of your performance as “giving to others”… you won’t feel nervous or afraid, stage fright will melt away. When you perform, you add value to people’s experience when they hear you. Some may like it and some may not, it’s their choice or preference and even if you play perfectly, not everyone will love what you are doing. That comes with the territory. But you will have given of yourself either way. You came to share what you do with the audience. Feel good about that because when you feel good, the chances of making mistakes in a performance diminish. If you don’t get anything else out of this article, at least remember this: The best antidote for stage fright is to change the mindset from “impressing others” to “giving to others”. Hope this helps! Sig--
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