Stage Presence, Part II

               

The beginning and the end of a piece are the most difficult parts of any performance. Take care about SILENCE. The stillness is part of your musical communication.

Start with a single abdominal breath. Try to hear the music and perceive the tactile sensation to produce it. Adrenaline can distort your rhythmic sense and cause you to start a faster tempo than you intend. As you continue to breath silently, empty your mind and deeply absorb the mood and the tempo. Play each sound from your heart, because the quality of your tone will have an immediate impact on listeners. 

As a conclusion, don`t forget to capture the mood, style and tempo. 

When you arrive at your last note, let it ringing out and then stop the sound with a decisive stroke. Wait until the music dissolves and listen to the silence. Just as you began with stillness, you return to stillness.

Reference: Gerald Klickstein- The Musician`s Way

Stage Presence, Part I

Some musicians have a natural charisma that translates immediately to their stage presence. The truth is, that for the majority of us things don`t come so easily. Being aware of the importance of this aspect, I decided to write some tips for improving the stage presence:

Attire

The combination of your attire, posture and gestures communicate your personality.

What you wear needs to be appropriate for the performance event and occasion. Your stage attire is ideal when fits you comfortably, shows well even from the back of the hall and makes you feel confident. 

Bowing

A bow is equivalent of a handshake and a greeting  when you meet someone new.

Not all bows are equal. When you enter, broaden your shoulders, breath normally and offer a warm facial expression to the audience. The bow can be less deep and held for a shorter duration. At the end of the concert, walk straight to center stage, with your head and chin up. Turn to audience and make eye contact, not fixing on any individual, but catching eyes and smile. A deeper bow demonstrates your appreciation.

Use a mirror or a video camera during the practice session. This will help you to refine your bow.

Body language

During the performance, the body language can be positive, neutral, distracting or negative. 

Be aware of your posture and to the facial expression. Try to avoid grimaces and move naturally with the music. Neither rigidity nor exaggerated movements look attractive.