Why performance....?

After six to twelve months, your guitar teacher (or piano teacher, singing teacher, drum teacher etc) might invite you to perform in a concert or recital. Instantly your palms sweat, your pulse quickens and your stomach is suddenly invaded by a rare species of butterfly. You agree, but immediately start plotting your escape route.

All perfectly normal.

No matter how well you prepare, your first performance will always be your first. Hopefully, your teacher will keep it small, low stakes and in familiar surroundings for the first time. Even better, put you in a group, even a duet, so you have moral support. So what can you expect? Absolutely 100% of the time, my first timers are very nervous. They make mistakes, stop and start, and forget things they have practiced a thousand times.

All perfectly normal.

Afterwards, every one of them gets that rush, as the audience applauds them warmly and your teacher (that's me) beams with pride. Suddenly, you feel like you just got off the best carnival ride of your life. You feel amazing, and you say to me 'let's go again'!

All perfectly normal!

The truth is, you will learn more from a two minute performance than you will from six weeks worth of lessons. Maybe even six months. You will learn a LOT about your instrument and your musicianship. But even more about yourself, and how strong you really are. You will learn whether you are a natural soloist, or work best in a group (I personally prefer groups). In recitals, you will hear others play and be able to benchmark yourself and see if your development is on the same level. And most importantly you discover the joy of sharing your music.

Jump at every chance to perform. The more you do it, the better you will get. Make the most of those guitar lessons, piano lessons, singing lessons, violin lessens, drum lessons - what ever your instrument!

COMING SOON: the next blog post wll be some tips on how to cope with those jitters - three things you can do to get past them, Subscribe so you don't miss it!