The end of the year is fast approaching, and with it comes performance season! Whether your child is performing for their school or our amazing winter performance, it’s important to be confident before stepping onto the stage! In this article, we will dig into the top 5 things you can do to prepare for a performance!
Choose Your Piece Early
Time moves quickly, especially at the end of the year! With the holidays coming, there are always events to attend and occasions to prepare for. This is why choosing a performance piece early is ideal! By allowing as much time as possible, the time-crunch of practicing is greatly diminished! We recommend selecting your pieces before Halloween (even if they are Christmas songs!).
Set Up Weekly Practice Goals
We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again; consistency is key in music! Unlike other subjects, which one can sometimes get away with cramming the night before, music relies on muscles! Because of this, it is nearly impossible to deeply learn a new piece in a limited time. By practicing multiple times a week the body can digest a new piece and gain a solid foundation that won’t be shaken by stage fright.
Memorize Your Piece
Musicians will always perform a piece better if they know it by heart! Just like any other type of presentation, by knowing your subject matter back to front you exude a confidence that can’t come from reading from a page.
However, memorization takes time! So remember to work towards this goal in your weekly practice routine.
Practice In Front of People
One of the best pieces of musical advice is to practice in the same way you will perform. For instance, if you are going to perform guitar standing up, then it is a good idea to practice while standing up! This prepares the body for the different environment of performing.
Taking this one step further, one of the best things any musician can do to prepare for a performance is to practice their piece in front of another person, even if it is just a single family member! The nerves of being perceived aren’t much different for a crowd of 2 or 200! Get up and perform in front of people as often as you can and you will be rewarded with calm confidence when you hit the stage!
Expect The Unexpected
In performance something always goes wrong, and rarely is it the thing you anticipated! There are always things that can’t be controlled once we step on stage. It is rarely up to the musicians how strong the lights are, what the sound is like or if the audience is attentive or boisterous. Performers need to prepare for their time in the spotlight, and also be ready to pivot! Remember to not be rigid in how you think you need a performance to go. Instead, trust the work that you have put in, and then do your best to go with the flow! Not only will this be more fun, but it will create a more alive and engaging performance.
Closing Notes
Well, there you have it, the best ways to prepare for a performance! If you would like to step out onto the stage, it’s not too late! Contact us today to get started with one of Toronto’s premiere music teachers!
