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flyingducks27 t1_j7y6ty9 wrote

Hi Ray, how do you get over performance anxiety? I have stomach aches and shaky fingers even when it's just a small recital - while you look so calm and connected to the music even when there are an entire hall watching you. What are your tips to be so calm and musical? Thanks!

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raychenviolin OP t1_j7zsi1f wrote

There are 2 methods for getting over performance anxiety. I've used both but recommend the second - I'll explain why:

  1. "The bulletproof musician" is where you get to a place where you focus and shut off all external forces. The way to do this is practice the same passage over and over in the same style, same phrasing, etc. where you develop the "muscle memory" to be able to play the passage at any given point (even when emerging from sleep). This method was used a lot by the Soviet musicians back in the day. However, if your mental focus cracks and you become aware of the audience during your performance, it's game over.
  2. The second method is constantly practicing in front of an audience to the point where your brain can't differentiate between practice & performance. This is harder to achieve (and a little more terrifying in the beginning) because there are suddenly people in your practice session, but this is probably the most valuable reason I use the Tonic app. The result is when I now walk on stage, I have the feeling like everyone's here to listen to me "try things", just like I do in the Studio.

That feeling you get when you wish you tried different things right after they happen? Yeah, it's possible now which is pretty cool.

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flyingducks27 t1_j81qwcu wrote

Thanks for the detailed response Ray - didn’t expect it! This was a great surprise to my not-so-good school day.

On the side note, Your performance at LA Phil last week was inspiring and will definitely practice more on Tonic now :) hope to see u in tonic studio!!

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flyingducks27 t1_j8klmth wrote

Ray, how does a day in your life looks like as a professional soloist while also juggling social media outlets and Tonic? How are you so productive!?!?

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