| You know, there's much more to playing music than | | | | One thing that holds everybody back, musician or |
| learning scales and chops. There's a whole other side | | | | otherwise, is focusing on failure. Regret is a terrible |
| to playing music that's in your mind and your heart. | | | | thing. When you make a mistake, reflect on it. Think |
| As a musician, if you create your own personal | | | | about what went wrong and how you can make it |
| development plans and follow them, you'll be able to | | | | go better next time. |
| do much more than you every believed you could. | | | | This is especially important with your performances. |
| Setting Goals | | | | When you have a bad show, you just want to go |
| This is first and foremost. You probably don't | | | | somewhere alone and stew about it. You might want |
| remember, but one year ago today, you didn't play | | | | to give the whole thing up and get an office job. But, |
| nearly as well as you do now. You also hadn't heard | | | | it's really important not to think about it that way. |
| some of the music that's influenced your playing. | | | | Whether you have a good performance or a bad |
| There were ideas out there in the universe that you | | | | performance, reflect. Think about what went well, |
| couldn't have even imagined one year ago today. | | | | and what went badly. What got the most audience |
| So, where would you like to be next year on this | | | | response, and what could you maybe skip next time. |
| day? Nobody ever gets anywhere without setting | | | | This is all part of honing our performance skills. |
| goals. Decide what it is you'd like to achieve in the | | | | Relax And Have Fun |
| next year, and then take the steps you need to | | | | Every performer has a certain mental zone that he |
| achieve it. | | | | or she gets into before the big show. This helps |
| But, don't set unrealistic goals for yourself. This is a | | | | them play at their best and always give a good |
| real confidence killer. "I want to become proficient in | | | | performance. |
| six more orchestral instruments in the next year." | | | | Even after years of performing experience, many |
| Whoah, put on the breaks a minute! Think about | | | | people are nervous onstage. In interviews, |
| what you realistically can do; take steps toward your | | | | professional musicians often say that this is the case. |
| goal, and each step along the way will be joyous and | | | | Everyone needs their own technique for relaxing |
| inspiring. You can do what you want, but some things | | | | before the show. If you're nervous, you just won't |
| take longer than others. | | | | get your best results. |
| Keep An Open Mind | | | | For example, when you play, imagine that you are in |
| Every musician has a subconscious checklist. This | | | | your room practicing. In your room, you want to do |
| checklist says, "I am this" and "I am that." It also | | | | your personal best for yourself. If you fudge a note, |
| says, "I can do this" and "I can't do that." | | | | it's YOU that has to listen to it. Imagine that you're |
| Everybody can benefit from exploration. Get out and | | | | back there in your room, and do your best for |
| check out new music you've never heard before. If | | | | yourself. |
| you're a jazz player, get some hip hop records. What | | | | Chops Aren't Everything |
| do you like and what don't you like about them? | | | | Finally, technique isn't everything. It's just a tool that |
| What is similar and what is different? You'd be | | | | helps you realize the sounds you hear in your head. |
| surprised how different styles of music mesh | | | | Remember that heart, energy and soul are just as |
| together into something else. Don't restrict yourself. | | | | important. |
| If you're a classical musician, go the library and check | | | | We all play to the beat of a different drum, so find |
| out some CDs of music from some other part of the | | | | out what works best for you, and make that your |
| world. If at first it sounds jarring, give it a good listen. | | | | personal development plan. In the words of the |
| Maybe you can bring something unique to your music | | | | Beatles, "There's nothing you can do that can't be |
| from a faraway place. | | | | done... |
| Turn Mistakes Into Learning Opportunities | | | | |