I had the chance to go to Sarasota, FL last week and spend the holidays with my family there. Yes, it was a really nice break from the dreary/freezing/assault that is winter in Rochester. While we were there, we had tickets to the Sailor Circus, which is a training program with kids from (what appeared to be) age 10-18. It was a full-blown circus, and rarely did I remember that these were just KIDS!
Like most circuses, it ended with the daring feats of the trapeze. Mostly the one where someone takes off, leaps into the hands of the waiting "catcher" and then is tossed back to their bar to return to the "home" area. Those were great, and honestly, even though they look easy, I'm sure they require lots of time and practice to get the timing and energy and height of the bar just right. Then.... the announcer said that they would Complete Silence (!) as the final tricks were very difficult and very dangerous...... oooh..... ahhhhh!!! A young man attempted to get a lot of height in his swing, and leapt off, doing a triple somersault before being "caught" by the second person. Their hands met! But the downward force of finishing so many spins propelled him out of that catch a moment later. We cheered, then moaned for this great display of courage. He bounced into the wide, hammock-like net, then came to the edge and had a confab with his coach. And once he started climbing back up the tower, we cheered even harder!
And that started me thinking. Of course they work with a net for trapeze - it's high up, it's dangerous, and how could you ever begin to take a risk like that without having a modicum of security under you? Not to mention, these kids are training. But what really got me was that it didn't matter that he hadn't completed the trick - we were rooting for him, maybe even harder now that he was getting back up there and trying it again.
In fact, he did try it again - and this time their fingertips just grazed each other, but no catch was made. And you know what? We cheered so loudly for this act of courage, it was deafening under the tent!
So, how is this like practicing performing? Or even just actually performing? We all need a net, and I'm a little tired of people putting it over on students that they need to be able to do things without one. Seriously? Our kids need a space to be able to try ideas, practice performing before actually performing or auditioning, and know that we respect their courage, we encourage their creativity, and that when things go wrong, you just get up and try again. You talk to your coach (or watch your video, listen to your tape) about what needs to be altered, and then you go right back and try that. Knowing that we support our students, we admire them for taking on the challenge of learning from mistakes.
It also means you need a good coach, someone you trust and will actually listen to. It wouldn't have helped our trapeze artist if the coach only said "you tried, I believe in you, you'll do better next time." We all need practical advice from someone who's been there, done that. For years I have called on my dear friend Aaron when I've been stuck with a piece I'm working on. He's younger than me, but has great experience, and is a devoted practice-r. He's always got some idea that hasn't dawned on me for ways to finger a passage, or ways to practice out what's not working. In fact, maybe his biggest help is that he listens to me talk about the problem (we no longer live anywhere near each other, so it's all calls and facetime now) - then can parse out what's actually not working. Sometimes it's posture, sometimes it's just the way I'm thinking about it, or the tempo I'm taking. I've got many other coaches - my section in the RPO is made up of 7 other wonderful players, any of whom I could call on for ideas and advice, my teachers have always been great about answering emails or calls, or squeezing me in for a tune-up lesson from time to time. The learning just never stops.
I think we need to frame performing and auditioning this way to our students: it's all a part of learning. Even that high-powered college audition, for the largest scholarship ever, it's all part of the continuum of learning. Know that you have a net, that you will not crumble should things go differently from your plan. But also know, that you need to practice performing with that net in mind, before you up the stakes on what performing means.
With that in mind, I'm off to don my big floppy shoes, and water-squirting flower on my lapel, happy practicing everyone!
Gaelen
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