 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: wjk
Date: 2003-01-07 17:10
Are there any rituals that bulletin board readers use to prepare for performance? Deep breathing? Meditation? Whats the best way to become relaxed prior to a performance?
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Author: Ralph G
Date: 2003-01-07 17:50
I sing along to Lyle Lovett CDs on the drive to the gig. It loosens up my chops and helps articulation. Of course, it helps if I'm the only one in the car.
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Author: Hank
Date: 2003-01-07 18:34
Hi,
I pretty much do the same for gigs and I do for rehearsals. At home about an hour before, I go through my reeds and make final selections for the top 4 (I usually play #2 or #3 for rehearsals). Some warmup of a few scales and a run through of some of the tougher little sections for that event. It is too late for any serious changes at this point.
Get to the place for the gig or performance, a few last minutes exercises (I really like to play little sections of the Rose Etudes particularly #35 which gets you all over the clarinet innjust a few measures) followed by some long notes and tuning and I'm ready.
When I look back over the many, many years I have been playing, I have always done about the same thing. It's like playing golf also. You get to the course and do some stretching, hit some easy 7 irons and work your way thorugh a few longer clubs, do some chipping, put for a good amount fo time, and you're ready.
You can't start cold with anything and do well right out of the box. The key issue though is that you need to manage your time so you are not rushed (I am usually one of the first ones at rehearsals).
Hank
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Author: Ken
Date: 2003-01-07 18:47
Listening to Frank Zappa's "Montana" before taking stage always relaxes me ... ;^)
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Author: Mark Pinner
Date: 2003-01-07 21:54
Set up, warm up and then have a cup of tea. Try and enjoy what you are playing and then any nervousness will turn into a positive. It also helps knowing that your chops, reeds and horns are in good condition.
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Author: Leah
Date: 2003-01-07 23:09
i make sure i am prepared so that ultimately i don't have to worry and get as nervous, and then on that day, i look over the piece(s) without my instrument, and eat a banana before i take out my clarinet to warm it up!
Leah
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Author: Carol Dutcher
Date: 2003-01-07 23:38
Check reeds, take along anything I might need. When I get where I'm going I practice scales. One glass of beer.
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Author: Amy
Date: 2003-01-08 01:12
I used to sing along to the best song ever, 'Bohemian Rhapsody' by Queen. I was definitely alone at these times.
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Author: Pam
Date: 2003-01-08 01:16
Being prepared. Make sure that all my stuff is gathered up ahead of time and in one place if there is little time for that before the performance. I usually get there plenty early enough so that I'm not rushed.
I brush my teeth before practicing or performing so I guess that is a ritual too.
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Author: Morrigan
Date: 2003-01-08 03:32
What Carol said - gimme and beer and it's all good!
Most of all, I like to be with a few friends the moment before I go on stange, and don't even talk about the performance, just gossip chit-chat or whatever. Nothing serious, just light-hearted so that I go on stage with a smile and don't take myself too seriously.
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Author: ron b
Date: 2003-01-08 04:06
Pretty much as Morrigan said what Carol said... Get there early enough for some chit-chat(etc.), wet a reed, take a deep breath and start blowin'. Make any pertinent adjustments (like tuning) then go with the flow
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Author: d dow
Date: 2003-01-08 12:32
I think it is very important to have a good night's rest before a performance.
Arrive at least a 1/2 hour before as to check on reeds.
I tend to warm up with Opperman exercise from his studies for flexibility and then go into arpeggios throught alll the keys for about five minutes...I may also go over a tricky pattern in the concert slowly or as fast as possible to prove it can be done at any tempi...ie. say the glissando in Rhapsody in Blue.
I eat about two hours before the actual arrival at the hall and maybe read a good book if I have spare time before the show.
I never eat alot of garlic before a performance or rehearsal!
I tend not to eat alot of fatty foods before the concert. Fries and hamburgers just make me feel tired....I go with health foods and eat alot of fruit and vegetables.
Sincerely
DD
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Author: William
Date: 2003-01-08 15:03
And then there is the story about Charles Niedich, cracking open a new box of VD's, putting the first reed out of the box into his mouth and walking out on the stage to solo with a major symphony orchestra. True or false--???????? (just heresay)
But, when Charles did a master class for our local university students, in front of a covey of student clarinetists and spectators, he unpacked his clarinet, casually took a reed out of his sports coat (still in it's plastic packing case), wet it for a few seconds, and began a demo on how fast and evenly he could play scales (relative to unwanted errant finger and arm action). At one point, he stopped expressing displeasure with the reed, and instead of switching to a different one, he switched mouthpieces.
He demostrated multiple tonguing skills, circular breathing and quality tone control--all without any apparent ritual warm up or special reed prep. He just seemed to be in total control, and--as described by our professor of clarinet--"unstopable."
But all with no apparent warm up ritual or special reed selection--just unpacked his clarinet and played (wonderfully, BTW).
Also, John Bruce-Yeh, at a Mid-West Orchestra and Band Clinic, did much the same thing. Walked in (8 am), took out both instruments (A & Bb) took a reed out of its plastic packing case, and without any warmup (in front of an audience of perhaps 150 music educators), played flawlessly, Stravinski's "Three Pieces"--from memory!!!! Asked later about his reed selection, he replied, "I just got lucky."
I guess the answer regarding how to become relaxed before performing might really be--like in sports--the strength and skill developed through relentless practice give you the edge of confidence.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2003-01-08 15:34
Many good suggestions/practices above, in addition I have a few which I "seem" to do in warmup. Playing now more bass cl than sop, I like to check-out pad-seating [see the thread "Buffet Gizmo"], partic. for the bottom notes, by running chromatics up into the altissimo [to show-off?] with diff fingerings. To check out if brain connection to fingers is still active, [I'm kinda old for this funny game!], I go over the break a few times by the first few bars of 76 Tmbs., key of C!, again "showing off" I guess. Fun, Don
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Author: susannah
Date: 2003-01-09 03:17
generally i play for about an hour 2 or 3 hours before the performance. after that i'll go away, maybe have something to eat (favourite pre-performance food - plain rice), and come back about 20 mins before to do a final warm up.
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Author: Mike
Date: 2003-01-09 19:24
Having my reeds in order relaxes me. I find which reed works best on which solo. I agree with Mark about enjoying the performance. I also don't believe in warming up. I might play through difficult solos once or twice, but I save everything for the performance.
My new ritual is to listen to Eminem's "Lose Yourself." It really gets me psyched.
Mike~
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