Our guitar instructor William Hughes is no stranger to performing on stage, and when preparing his guitar students for Starland School of Music’s annual recital in the student’s guitar lessons Will offers all his students solid guidelines to follow when preparing for a musical performance. Will took his time to write down his top advice to share with us his 10 Keys to a Successful Performance.
1. Practice, Practice, Practice…
There is no substitute for daily practice. Practice your piece everday especially during the 2 weeks leading up to the date of your performance.
2. Practice with a Metronome
Using a metronome at slow and fast speeds during your practice time will improve your level of comfort with your performance piece.
3. Memorize your Performance Piece
Memorizing your performance piece will internalize it, and allow ou to focus on what your hands are doing.
4. Play your Performance Piece in front of you Friends and Family
Performing in front of friends in family during your practice time will help you become more comfortable performing in front of an audience.
5. Practice your Performance Piece from Start to Finish
Practicing the song you will be peforming all the way through will prepare your brain for the proper order of the parts of the song, as well as strengthen your endurance and eliminate fatigue so you won’t need to stop during the performance.
6. Think about your Tempo before you begin to Play
The most common mistake is to start your piece too quickly, which could result in a shakey performance.
7. If you make a Mistake, Don’t Stop Playing and Keep Going
Remember that no one else knows the music as well as you do and the audience will not notice if something isn’t perfect.
8. Practice the Day of your Performance
Warmed-up, stretched out fingers and hands are crucial to a successful performance. Practice for 30-45 minutes at some point during the day of your peformance.
9. Get sleep and Eat
Make sure to get a good nights rest and remember to eat. Being tired or hungry can become very distracting while you are trying to perform.
10. Relax and Have Fun!
Remember that performing is about sharing and no one is there to judge you. You are not alone. All the other performers are going through the same thing you are. Do your best and do not worry about making mistakes. Playing Music is Fun!