Sigma Alpha Iota

sai-national.org • Fall 2022 11 2022 Natial Cvention performance and rehearsal space. To perform from a place of relaxed concentration and confidence, we must determine what kind of energy we wish to create for ourselves as well as accept from others before we ever enter the room. This starts with recognizing the mental and physical state we are in just before a rehearsal or performance. Think about this: what happens when we are running late, are disorganized, or are operating from a perfectionistic mindset? What type of impact does that have on our own selves as well as our musical partners? How many of us have entered a rehearsal or performance where other members of the ensemble arrived in this state? In my experience, this type of energy can contribute to a chaotic environment, subconsciously resulting in shallow breathing, physical tension, and disrupted concentration. To many of us, this is obvious. And yet, how many of us have contributed this kind of energy to a group at some point? If we make the conscious decision to become self-aware enough to recognize the mental space we are in before we ever walk into the room, imagine the difference that would have on us, our musical collaborators, and the musical product. This can be done in two simple steps. First, we must become aware of our own feelings and connect with the reality of what we are feeling physically, mentally, and in our souls. Maybe we are stressed, unprepared, perfectionistic, tense, or have something incredibly challenging we are dealing with outside of the music making that is on our mind. Perhaps we are feeling excited and joyful, energized and at peace. We can name all these things without engaging with them. Simply acknowledging the reality of where we are is grounding. Second, we need to be able to recognize the headspace our collaborative partners are in. Like us, they are also dealing with many things that might overflow into the energy they bring into the room. Accepting the reality of our own mind and body allows us to create space for others. What "owning it" looks like Sometimes the most helpful thing is the most obvious: to name how we are feeling out loud. It might look like saying to your partner(s), "You know what? I am feeling a little anxious about this rehearsal or performance today" or "I am so excited to get to make music with you tonight!" Perhaps we choose to recognize it privately rather than share it with our partners. Even then, taking the time to become aware of our energy and actively articulating what we are experiencing is necessary. As a next step, we may feel comfortable encouraging our musical partners to connect with their reality as well. We can invite them into a direct discussion if we think that would be well received. We can also try an indirect approach, starting the rehearsal or performance with a neutral question like "how are you feeling?" and draw conclusions from their answers. We can also address anxiety by modeling behaviors that help decrease tension and lower the heart rate. You may wish to ask them if they would like to take a moment before the rehearsal or performance begins to breathe and set intentions together. Indirectly modeling works well too. You can simply tell them that you need a moment to get into the right mental place, close your eyes, be still, and breathe. Often that alone will change the atmosphere in the room. The key is remembering to do it. What if ? What if your musical partners are not willing to do this work with you or you do not have the kind of time or relationship to directly address all of this? Indirectly modeling the behaviors and creating your own positive energy is the key and this can be done in four ways. Start with some audible, deep breaths. It is amazing how influenced people are by hearing others breathe deeply. Maybe you even found yourself more aware of your breath after reading that sentence. As you breathe, stand up to stretch slowly and purposefully. Again, you might be surprised with how often this will catch on: you stretch, often they stretch. Name your intention for the rehearsal or performance aloud. You can state your goals for the performance. If you are in a rehearsal, a simple "I'd love to run this at tempo just to get an overall sense of the work," "today I'd love to tackle the work in sections," or "a slow, under- tempo run through would be beneficial for me today, can we work some of that in?" can direct the focus of the rehearsal towards something productive. If you are about to perform, you can keep your intentions general and say "I'm excited to breathe with the phrases" or "the acoustics in here are amazing and I'm looking forward to how we sound." This also invites your partners to contribute their own goals and intentions. Finally, remember to create the energy you want. If your musical collaborators are not on board with this idea or you sense they are disconnected, that is fine. We cannot control the choices others make. In those instances, imagine putting up an emotional forcefield around you so that you are unable to absorb negative energy and can focus instead on what you are creating. Treat this practice like a musical mantra: block what is unwelcome by focusing on something positive that you wish to create. Use it to Your Advantage Regardless of your partner's mental, physical, or emotional state, you can still use every rehearsal and performance as an opportunity to practice tuning in to your own energy. If you establish the habit of beginning rehearsals and performances this way, you might be surprised how quickly it becomes second nature. You might even discover that you begin to attract certain types of performers because of your intention and energy. Now we return to our opening scenario, imagining a new outcome: you take a few moments to check in with your breath, your body, and your mind to connect to the reality of your physical and mental states. You are conscious that you and your musical partners will no doubt experience some anxiety about the performance, but because you have prepared for that, you are in a state of acceptance, creativity, and curiosity. You are ready to confidently walk onstage and enjoy the performance. Dr. Jessica Koebbe is Instructor of Music in Keyboard Arts at William Jewell College. She has previously served on the keyboard faculty at Texas Wesleyan University, MidAmerica Nazarene University, and Kansas State University. She is a member of the Kansas City Sigma Alpha Iota Alumnae Chapter and serves as the director for the Puerto Rico Center for Collaborative Piano. To learn more about the resources I have developed, please visit: www.mindfulmusicpedagogy.com

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