Making Recordings

Connecting with Your Listener

I have been working with many musicians in the midst of making recordings in lieu of live performances, auditions, master classes, and competitions.  Many of these musicians cannot get into an ideal space to make these recordings, instead settling for a less than ideal living room or bedroom.

Despite the recording circumstance, we want to connect with our listeners.  We want to draw them into our music-making.  We want to engage them and move them.  Here are some ideas on playing big in a small space to get maximum performing presence in minimal space.

Visualize the ideal space where you would make this recording or perform in.  What does it look like?  What are the dimensions?  Maybe it’s a beautiful balconied space or a smaller recital hall.  Imagine the space above you, in front of you, beside you, BEHIND you and below you.  Allow this image to re

main in your mind and play as if you are sending your sound to every nook and cranny of the ideal big space.  I think of my sound like a blanket that I send out into the room, filling every corner and crevice.

See Your Space as you play.  Instead of just playing to the camera, send your sound to the corners of your room, the top, and the bottom.  Turn on your peripheral vision when you play.  Notice lighting differences, colors, texture, even the scratches on the walls.  Keeping your actual space in your awareness will magically improve your movement.  Yes, your movement, this is how you create phrasing, color, expression.  Notice the camera in the context of the space instead of fixating on the camera, the music, or pretending the camera is not there.  Allow it to be there, be awake and alive in the moment.  Many find that they hear this sound with greater dimension and can allow the flow to grow organically rather than micromanaging music-making.

Build an audience.  There is something magical when we have an audience in our space listening, moving to the sounds we weave.  Build a mock audience in your space.  Gather stuffed animals, or pictures and place them around you.  As you prepare to play, notice them, actually look at them.  As you look at them individually, you can also see the others peripherally.  Keep your stuffed animal audience in your awareness as you deliver your instrument or arms, intentionally send them some a phrase as you play by noticing them in them with your vision.  This keeps your awareness wide, contributing to better sitting or standing, better movement, propelling your expression throughout the space.  What will your viewer see when they watch your video? Authenticity and confidence that permeates sound and expression.

Be curious…