Klarinet Archive - Posting 000257.txt from 2001/12

From: Michelle White <mwhite3@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] OT: Voice Coaching Help
Date: Tue, 11 Dec 2001 18:12:33 -0500

Hi, Ian! I don't know much about voice coaching, but I know about stage
fright. :-)

I had terrible stage fright resulting from lack of confidence resulting from
stage fright (etc.) in college. I knew that if I could
just nail the darn solo ONCE, I'd be just fine. What worked for me was
imitating someone I wanted to play like. I had to
breathe like this person, move like this person, phrase like this person, etc.
Before my solo came around I closed my eyes
momentarily and pretended to be this person. I nailed the solo and never missed
it again, as finally accomplishing this feat
meant my confidence was bolstered. I used this technique everytime I was
nervous about performing, and ended up nailing
every solo. If I botched something in rehearsal it was no longer the end of the
world becauase I *knew* I'd get it..

There were several other techniques for performance anxiety that were mentioned,
but the one above worked best for me.

My professor also had me read The Inner Game of Music so many times that I
finally just bought my own copy.

I hope that is helpful!

Michelle

Ian Black wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> Sorry for the off-topic post.
>
> I'm having trouble with one of my principals in a youth theatre group which
> I MD. This guy has two main problems I can see, neither of which I'm having
> much success with fixing.
>
> <snip>
>
> Secondly, he's got it into his head that he can't do it, he's panicking and
> losing all his breath on the opening note. (for those familiar with the
> show, we're doing Godspell and he's not coping with "Prepare Ye..."). Of
> course he thinks he can't manage it, so he doesn't perform, so he thinks he
> can't manage.... It's a vicious spiral. Any hints on increasing this lad's
> confidence would be great. He's around 15-17 years, and is about the best
> male we have in the group. <snip>

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