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Gaining performance experience

Author: Brenda
Date: 2006-02-21 11:50

This weekend I sponsored an event that gave beginning to intermediate musicians a stage on which to perform in front of an audience. This was for a mix of instruments - for this first occasion we had clarinet, piano, viola, violin and flute. We almost had a cello as well but she backed out at the last minute. We had 14 performers ranging in age from 7 to about 50, most of whom had little or no experience in playing in public. Several of these have their Conservatory exams coming up in June. So the purpose was to give them an opportunity to play in front of an appreciative audience before appearing before their examiner, to develop their "stage legs". Afterwards they were all presented with certificates for their participation in the event.

Several things came out of this: The young ones were especially pleased that they were received well, even with their short pieces. Some of the very young players were very good indeed! Also, some realized that they needed far more experience in public performance before they could play their exams. So we discussed the possibilities of inviting family and friends to the house with the purpose of making them nervous while they played, to ask to go to the homes of family or friends, to go to nursing homes to play, anywhere where there are people around. Being only February this gives them enough time to get the practice needed to overcome, somewhat, their fear of performance.

For the audience members it was an inspiration. There were three very young children who were all eyes when they saw other small children playing. Also, one of the Moms was inspired when she saw an older woman playing her exam pieces, she realized there's musical life after children. I phoned up this performer and told her how much she was an inspiration to this Mom and she was impressed, she hadn't realized how she could affect others.

We're planning to do this again next year. With word of mouth, it shouldn't be too hard to put together another group, and a better audience. I just wish I had something like this when I was going through my exams.

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