Also, when you’re rehearsing with your band – one of most biggest things that most musicians miss out is to work on elements of performance beyond playing their individual instruments together. Ensure you work on movements, gestures, interactions with other band members, talk between songs, taking mic off stand, running out into audience. Such things may seem really simple but there not ordinary behaviour so make sure you get some vital practice and preparation in. Future newsletters may include resources to developing these skills effectively.

It’s also great to assess how well prepared you are mentally for event. I use a set of questions that I came up with to assess my own readiness to perform, and I’d like to share them with you.

It will open as a Microsoft Word document. If you would like some musicians development coaching via email, send through your completed attachment to info@coachkavit.com and I’ll be happy to work with you to making most out of your performance.

Are You Ready To Perform? http://www.coachkavit.com/docs/readytoperform.doc

In this article, let’s look at how you can bring your awareness directly on sight…

If you are not familiar with notes on score, then simply watch them. When I learn new things on Tabla, I find it easier to look at each note and speak it out whilst I play. This keeps my focus as well as helps me remember it off by heart! If you are familiar with your notes, then simply “paint it out.” When you are playing particular notes, either leave your eyes open or close them and picture notes on paper as you are playing. Alternatively, you can picture yourself painting it out whilst you are playing. If you don’t want to picture notes, perhaps try looking at yourself playing instrument (in your mind) whilst you are actually playing it.

Go through following steps, keep on practicing and see heightened difference in your playing...

(1) Play a piece of music

(2) Play piece of music again, this time focusing on a particular sight

(3) This time play it again, focusing and visualising another musician playing it while music you are making evokes images in your mind.

(4) Note down what you felt, saw, and heard and any difference in your music.

I suggest you create a plan to try this strategy everyday and for slightly longer periods of time. Remember, more you practice this, more it will get embedded within you and your concentration in music will increase. That means, your Self 1 begins to disappear! Other techniques for focusing and using sound and feelings are explored further in “Express Yourself” for Musicians workbook available at www.coachkavit.com/ey.htm