The Good Musician

The Guide to Getting to 100% Playing Form

by Arjun Muralidharan on January 23rd, 2008

We all face situations in which we are tested. I know you do. So frankly, as a musician I always face that moment of fear prior to a concert that let’s me know I’m not going to be playing at my fullest potential. So how do I try and get the engine warm before throwing myself to the wolves? Well here’s a few pointers.

• Focus. In the meaning of the word, try to remove everything else from your mind, make it a clear pathway for absolute sole focus on your music. Ditch thinking about the audience, your teacher, your cold fingers. Think music.
• Talk to someone. I like this one, as it helps me cut through the time before a concert situation. In a band, just chat about anything but the concert!
• Tune well in advance. Tuning about half an hour ahead of your concert will relieve you from the stressful feeling you get when you’re told your on but your guitar sounds like it’s tuned in some turkish scale.
• General-Rehearse your gigs. The one biggest thing that helps me is to play my concert a few hours ahead of showtime in as close conditions as possible. This usually ends up in disaster, but I’ve always seen that a disastrous general-rehearsal results in a successful concert :-)

The basic principle behind these ideas is to make yourself feel prepared and relaxed. If you’re in the know about conditions, can forget about externalities and can eliminate any dangers, you’re playing will have a free runway to stun the audience.

What’re your best tips for getting prepared and most of all, relaxed?

POSTED IN: Guitar Zone, Your Instrument & You