Mastering the Art of Performance A Primer for Musicians

by Gordon, Stewart

• ISBN13: 9780195177435
• ISBN10: 0195177436
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2005-12-15
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

In Mastering the Art of Performance: A Primer for Musicians, Stewart Gordon offers seasoned advice to musicians intent on meeting the challenges of performance. Through real-life examples and pre-performance exercises, this accessible manual gives musicians and other performers practicalinsights into every aspect of performance. While other books merely identify and describe the problems associated with performance, this book offers detailed suggestions for solving them. First, Gordon tackles the critical planning and preparatory stages, helping performers to evaluate their strengths and weaknesses. The book's easy-to-follow exercises address the self-doubt and anxiety many musicians contend with, helping them to analyze why they perform, set goals and assess thelevel of energy needed to achieve them, and develop a performance philosophy. The book also offers techniques that will help musicians deal with some of the classic pitfalls of performance preparation, including repetition and drill, changing bad habits, and developing memory. For the performance itself, Gordon's insights help musicians with pacing and managing stage fright. For the aftermath, Gordon arms performers with strategies for dealing with criticism and conducting a constructive self-evaluation, equipping them to face the challenges of a lifetime ofperformances, including career plateaus and burnout. Gordon draws from more than forty years of experience in front of audiences to offer readers invaluable tips and personal reflections. While aimed primarily at musicians, the book will be useful to anyone facing the pressures of performance, such as actors, dancers, and even public speakers.

Author Biography

Stewart Gordon has enjoyed a long and distinguished career as a pianist, teacher, editor, composer, and author. His books and video tapes are widely used in university classrooms. He is currently Professor of Keyboard Studies at the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California.

Table of Contents

Prelude: Defining Performance	3	(10)
Assessing Yourself, the Performer: Achieving a Positive Mind-Set toward Performance	13	(12)
Why We Perform: Forging a Performance Philosophy	25	(8)
Physical Support for Performance	33	(8)
Conceptualizing and Scheduling Goals	41	(14)
Keeping Preparation Fresh and Focused	55	(14)
Dealing with Repetition and Drill	69	(12)
Techniques to Develop Secure Memorization	81	(10)
Ensuring Quality	91	(6)
Self-Regard at the Time of Performance	97	(8)
Managing Stage Fright	105	(12)
Dynamics during Performance	117	(12)
Evaluation after Performance	129	(24)
Performance and Human Interaction	153	(6)
The Career Challenge	159	(20)
Physical Challenge and Performance	179	(6)
Performance Careers in Retrospect	185	(14)
Postlude: Performance and Your Spiritual Life	199	(6)
Selected Bibliography	205	(2)
Index	207