Doublereed Archive - Posting 000043.txt from 2005/01

From: James Jeter <jyjeter@-----.com>
Subj: [DR-L] Musical Self-Worth
Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2005 10:00:07 -0500

Just a few musings on the topic for the weekend - many years ago, I read
an autobiography of Mary Martin, the star of so many Broadway musicals
(Peter Pan, South Pacific, etc...) She was an indefatigable performer -
but suffered initially from stage fright. In the book, she describes how
she got over this - basically, she wrote that what saved her, was to
learn to NEVER APOLOGIZE! When she figured this out, no matter what
happened, she was able to continue on.

I've learned that there's a big difference between an unreasonable
demand (perfection) and a simple request. If I "simply request"
ANYTHING, life goes so much smoother. And this definitely applies to
musical performance. Requesting rather than demanding, takes off a lot
of the pressure. Also, perfection = death!*

Just my 3 cents - that, and $2.00 will get you anywhere in NYC.

Alles Gute - Jim

*Seven years of psychotherapy also helps!

--
James Jeter, D.M.A.
NYC Bassoonist
http://www.westfieldnj.com/wso/jeter.htm

"Whatever you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that
you do it." Mahatma Gandhi
"Mach' es kurz! Am Juengsten Tag ist's nur ein Furz!" Goethe

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