It's frustrating and disheartening when all our preparation in the practice room doesn't make it out onto the stage. Instead of presenting the polished piece we've been performing in the comfort of our room, we're suddenly overcome by hyper-drive vibrato, sweaty palms, or a bow that jitters and skids as we squeak out our phrases. We're overwhelmed by mental calculations about difficult upcoming passages and worries about how we'll even be able to make it to the end of the piece, versus the thoughts we'd love to be having about sharing the character and emotion of the music and connecting with our listeners. Sound familiar?
If so, I hope you enjoy this exploration into performance anxiety that goes far beyond imagining the audience in their underwear! I share my own journey through debilitating stage fright as a teen, and the tools, including hands-on mind-body practices we'll experience during the episode, which I've used to foster more confidence and focus on stage, and to help get comfortable with the uncomfortable symptoms of performance anxiety. I hope you find new tips to help you and/or your students in what I have to share!
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For more information and info about my performances, recordings, and teaching, please visit my website https://www.laurelthomsen.com
To check out my Violin Geek Blog, the companion to the podcast, sharing tips, insight and inspiration since 2007, please visit https://www.laurelthomsen.com/violin-geek-blog
If you have a violin, viola, fiddle, music biz, or practice related question or topic you’d like to have covered on the Violin Geek podcast or in the blog, have someone you'd like me to interview, or have a story or insight to share, please send me an email at laurel@laurelthomsen.com.
Also, please reach out if you’d like to inquire about online violin, viola, or fiddle lessons with me via Skype, FaceTime, or Zoom. You're also welcome to post your success story, comments, or suggestions to https://www.facebook.com/laurelthomsenmusic.
Happy Practicing!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/violingeek/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/violingeek/support"Weaving musical worlds into one" - a conversation with Jazz violinist and composer Meg Okura
Shifting Technique Deep Dive
Play More Musically
"Make Great Music with Ease" - a chat with violinist and Art of Freedom Method creator Jennifer Roig-Francolí
Finding a comfortable and effective chin and shoulder rest
Music Careers, Part 3
Russian versus American Music Education - a conversation with Russian violinist and educator Michael Dvoskin
Making Time for Music: a chat with violinist Julia Reddy
Finding our voice, from Classical strings to Hot Jazz - A chat with violinist Gabe Terracciano
Rediscovering Baroque Bows - a chat with historical bowmaker Ralph Ashmead
Where am I supposed to put my thumb on the violin neck? Principles and considerations.
Music Careers, Part 2
Strengths and Challenges of Adult Learners - an interview with Rachael Ridge of "The Adult Violin Academy"
Music Careers, Part 1
Challenges of the Adult Beginner Violinist: Laurel's interview on the Violin Class Podcast
Intonation Mastery #4: Issues within our Technique and Approach
"Learning By Ear" - a chat with fiddler Lissa Schneckenburger
Stories About Songs - "If A Wave"
Intonation Mastery #3: Avoiding External Factors + Practicing For Better Tuning
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