Sharing Your Music With OthersWriten by Edward Weiss
So you've got a few New Age piano pieces under your belt and you want to share your music with others. Can you do it? Yes! Here's a working plan for you.
Create 3 Pieces of Music
For those of you who are just beginning to improvise, don't worry about this. But for those who are beginning to compose, you'll need to have 3 complete pieces to play. Why? Because this will come to around 10-15 minutes of music - the perfect amount of time for a mini-concert! If you're in the process of creating your 3 pieces and haven't finished yet set an goal date. For example, it's a good idea to write something like this down:
By August 12, 2006, I will have 3 complete and polished pieces of music to play for others.
This is a time-based goal and will work wonders if you write it out and place it where you can read it everyday. Most likely, you will try and find excuses for why you can't finish something on time. This goal with time and date on it will continually remind you to stay on track.
Practice Your 3 Pieces
Practice is the only way you will build up your confidence level. Practice each piece slowly at first. Never back up if you make a mistake. I repeat NEVER back up if you make a mistake. Why? What are you going to do when you're playing for an audience and you mess up. You're not going to stop everything and go back. No! You go forward. Chances are very good that the audience won't even notice. I can testify to this from personal experience.
When you practice, be with the music. The audience isn't really concerned with you per se. They want an emotional experience through the music and the best way to give that to them is for you to be in the moment.
Overcome Performance Anxiety
To do this, you must first practice until you can play all 3 pieces straight through and you must first perform for a very small audience. Perhaps one or two people. You see you have to get used to the idea that eyes will be watching you. This makes most very self-conscious. By playing for very small groups of people, or even one person first, you get used to this and you can simply shrug it off. Playing for others should be a joyful experience. It can be if you follow these simple guidelines.
Edward Weiss is a pianist/composer and webmaster of Quiescence Music's online piano lessons. He has been helping students learn how to play piano in the New Age style for over 14 years and works with students in private, in groups, and now over the internet. Stop by now at http://www.quiescencemusic.com/pianolessons.html for a FREE piano lesson!
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