Welcome to Mastering the Stage: A Guide to Performance Preparation and Memorization for Young Musicians! In this blog post, we delve into the essential strategies and tips that budding musicians need to elevate their performance skills and confidence. From setting up engaging home concerts to mastering the nuances of stage etiquette, we cover a comprehensive range of topics designed to enhance the performance experience.
Whether you're a young performer, an adult stepping onto the stage for the very first time or a parent guiding your child through their first showcase, this guide is packed with valuable insights to prepare for successful and memorable performances.
Let’s explore the art of captivating an audience, perfecting your practice routines, and shining in the spotlight!
Preparation and Practice
For All Students:
To enhance performance skills and prepare young musicians for the stage, it is highly recommended to create as many practice opportunities as possible that mimic real performances. Here are some key strategies:
Home Performance Opportunities:
Practicing to perform is much different than daily practice. When we practice performing, we do not stop to fix mistakes. We focus on telling our musical story and engaging our audience. Parents and caregivers can set up mini-performance events at home. This can involve inviting friends and family or even setting up an audience of stuffed animals or toys for younger children.
Purpose of Mini Performances:
Use these home-based performances to practice stage etiquette and perform musical pieces without interruptions, focusing on storytelling and audience engagement rather than correcting mistakes.
Parents, comment and ask questions:
What mood is being created with the music? Is this a joyful, melancholy, tranquil, or lively piece? Is there a story behind the music? Let’s see if you can translate the piece through your facial expressions, body actions and dynamics in the music!
String Players, Instrumentalists and Vocalists:
A part of your preparation is your rehearsal with your accompanist. Be sure that your music is memorized and well-prepared for this time together. Know your plan for expression and choreography as well as the tempo of your song. As a performer, it is your job to speak up and communicate these musical nuances with your accompanist. Above all, be respectful and say, “thank you”. Accompanists work hard and are there to support you!
Vocalists:
Stay Hydrated! Drinking water and staying hydrated in the week leading up to a performance is especially important. The day of, is too late to hydrate! Our vocal folds are little thin membranes that need water to stay healthy and sound great!
Maintaining a Performance-Ready Piece
When a piece is memorized and performance-ready, it is important to know how to maintain it in the weeks leading up to performances.
Here are some tips:
Practice with eyes on the music even if the piece is memorized. Sometimes we start to forget the small details in the music when a piece is memorized.
Try mental practice. Hear the music in your head while reading the music.
Slow practice is essential! This keeps the faster notes under control.
Use your imagination! Create a story that goes with the music. This helps to keep it alive and interesting.
A great attitude is key! Remember to tell yourself each time you practice that playing the piece is the easiest thing for you to do; it is completely natural. Believe this, and it will be so!
Day-Of Preparation
Managing Nerves
It is normal for one’s heart rate and adrenaline to increase when performing. Please let your performer know that this is normal and happens to everyone. In our performance classes, we discuss how to use these changes in our bodies to our advantage in helping us to achieve greater concentration and focus during performances.
While you sit waiting for your turn to perform, focus on breathing.
Blow all your air out through your mouth until you feel empty and then let your lungs naturally fill again. If you repeat this exercise, your heart rate will decrease and you will feel more calm.
Vocalists:
Be sure to eat enough on the day of your performance. A hungry tummy makes for a tired singer. Food equals energy and we need energy to fuel our voices! For example, bananas contain a calming factor and are great energy. Avoiding dairy is recommended because it can create excess phlegm or mucus and give the feeling of a “frog” in the throat.
Warm up at home. Most students will have exercises that they do each week with their teacher in lessons. Do some of these at home before your performance so your voice has been used and is ready to sing. On that note, try not to over sing. If you spend the whole morning singing your song over and over again, by the time your performance comes you may find your voice is tired or even hoarse.
Bring water with you to sip while you wait for your turn!
Guitarists and String Players:
String players should arrive early at your performance venue so that you can check the tuning of your instrument. Seek out an instructor or senior student who can assist you if you cannot tune your instrument. Cold or warm weather can impact the tuning of your instrument. Always check before getting on stage!
Concert Attire: Dress to Impress!
Dress pants, dress shirts, longer skirts or dresses, dress shoes. Ties and bow ties are optional.
Be comfortable! Performance clothing should be non-restrictive.
Dress shoes: be sure to practice performing, walking and standing in these ahead of time, especially if they have heels!
Hair off your face. In order to communicate with your audience, they need to see your face and eyes or your side profile if you are a pianist/string player.
No super bright nail polish or excess jewellery such as bracelets or rings that can become a distraction to you when performing.
Bring a Copy of Your Music to Your Performance
Students are encouraged to perform their music by memory. It is still a great idea to bring a copy of the music to the performance. It can be a comfort for students to look at their music while they are waiting in the audience. Also, if something happens and your accompanist needs your song, you will have it!
You will also need to submit an original copy of your music to your adjudicator or clinician if you are performing in a festival or masterclass.
Stage Etiquette
Common performance practice includes a bow both before and after your musical selection. Musicians should practice walking to the piano or with their instrument in a well-paced, confident manner.
How to Bow:
Stand tall with feet together and arms by sides, smile for the audience then slowly bend at the waist looking down at shoes, stand up tall again with a smile!
For all students:
Before you begin your musical selection, take a moment to make sure your body is ready. Do a quick body scan. Plant your feet with some space between them.
A nice deep breath in through the nose and out through the mouth is a great way to take a moment on the stage and calm yourself.
During your performance, if something doesn’t go as planned, try not to show it on your face. Often the audience won’t even notice, unless you show it!
Guitarists:
Take time to settle in on stage before playing. Adjust your guitar footstool if you are using one, check the volume of your amp. If using a music stand, be sure that it is not blocking your face to the audience.
Maintain a good playing position – imagine your shoulder blades are held up by strings and hold your head high!
Vocalists and String Players:
As soon as you feel ready, look at your accompanist and give them a little nod and smile. This will signal that you are ready for the music to start.
Set your tempo. If it’s going too fast or slow, adjust your speed. Your accompanist is trained to follow you!
If your song ends with the piano, keep your eyes looking out and stay in the moment. The song is over only after the music stops.
Take another bow and then gesture to your accompanist. It is so important to publicly thank your collaborator! This is usally done by taking your hand closest to them, palm up, and move your arm from your body out to them. It is also wonderful to look at them and smile. After all, you just did something awesome together!
String Players:
Maintain an optimal playing position – violin up on your shoulder, bow between the bridge and the fingerboard and a space between your feet.
Vocalists:
Singers should always take a moment to make sure their body is ready before you sing. Plant your feet with some space between them. Give your knees a little bounce to make sure they aren’t locked tight. How are your hands? Making fists or nervously grabbing your skirt/pants? Give your hands a little shake and reset before you begin your song.
At your performance there may be a microphone. The stage manager will be there to make sure it is set to the correct height. Singers, stand in front of the mic with your mouth close to, but not touching it. Then do your best to forget it’s there.
Enjoy yourself!
This is your time to shine! You have worked hard now enjoy the sense of accomplishment that comes from dedication and hard work.
Keep in mind: there will be performances where everything goes as planned and other times, there may be some surprises along the way. This is the nature of the game! Performing builds resiliancy! And the more you do it, the easier it will be!
