Klarinet Archive - Posting 000369.txt from 2004/04

From: "Forest Aten" <forest_aten@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] motivation
Date: Wed, 21 Apr 2004 22:50:07 -0400


As an example, I recently performed the basset horn obbligato in the Mozart
aria "Non Piu di Fiori", in Las Vegas, in the concert that Forest, Dan and
Ben have written about here. I had great coaching from Dan and Forest. I'd
agreed with the soprano that the fast bit should go about 110. Forest (who
last played it with Cecilia Bartoli) warned me "you'd better believe she
will go at least 120 on the night" (and of course she did). So I sweated
away till I could play it at 126. I was not overly nervous, and the
performance was pretty decent. But I still slipped up on a couple of the
runs, one of which I'd hardly ever got wrong before. When I later heard the
above remark I began to understand that the practice that a pro puts in is
at another level. I was thinking "yes, I've got it right now" rather than "I
am so secure that I can't get it wrong now". I will try to achieve that next
time; I am unlikely to do so without the stimulus (fear?) of a performance.

Keith Bowen

Keith,

You did a wonderful job on the Mozart performance! The notes you mention
missing (very few indeed) were in no way a distraction to your performance.
It was a wonderful performance.

Your critical perspective and the work we did together in the few days
before the performance does bring me to remind players to take advantage of
the heightened awareness that often occurs as we near deadlines associated
with performance. As we near performance day, we hear more and we hear more
critically. Always make good use of this critical time. Staying focused and
approaching practice in a positive and constructive manner is always
important but in the final days before a performance it can make the
difference between a very average effort and something special. You made
incredible progress in the few days before your UNLV performance. I feel it
was clearly the result of your terrific "gumption". We were all playing well
and having such a great time. No way for a "gumption trap" to work it's evil
on us that week. (not even that cracked top joint)

Best regards,

Forest

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