Kinds of Practice

Performing Time (continued)

c. Avoid editorializing on your performance as you perform. Trust in all your hours of “building” and “interpreting,” and literally visualize yourself crawling into the music and letting it take you on a glorious journey with it. Instead of trying to control the music, simply let the music unfold.

d. Come up with a word or short phrase (such as focus, keep going, breathe, success) to use as a positive catalyst to help you if a piece feels like it wants to fall apart as you perform.