Reality Checks

What the City Speed Challenge taught me about leveling up performing.

Have you ever had the experience of watching a performance recording and being surprised by what you see & hear? In other words, what you see isn’t what you thought you would see.

I certainly have had this experience! For a long time, watching recordings was downright painful for me. Thankfully, my experience transformed when I began observing the performance without sound and focus on the movements that underlie the music-making.

I was reminded of the importance of reality checks recently when I viewed a video of myself doing a speed course for Parkour Generations Boston City Speed Challenge.

I was surprised at how slow my opening run appeared and by the amount of time I wasted at the top of the wall. I swear I ran faster than that. Watching the video was my reality check. The information was exactly what I needed to improve my performance.

Let’s apply this same idea to music-making!

When was the last time you videotaped yourself or watched a video of a performance?

Here’s the key: instead of focusing on the sound of the performance, turn off the sound and observe the movement that underlies expression.

Ask yourself…

• Is what I see what I expect to see?

• What is my relationship to the ground like? Do I lift your toes? Lean into the outside of the foot? Have a foot floating over the ground? Do I tend to stand on my toes as I perform? Do I often see myself planted on one side? Are my feet splayed out? OR Do I move fluidly from the ground as I play/sing?

• Do I see any “awkward” or jerky movements that detract from the performance or limit expression? Habitual movements associated with breathing or challenging passages are what I look for.

• Does the overall movement of my body support my musical intention or distract from it? Movements such as beating with the upper body, repeated movements from the waist rather than the hips are examples.

Where to start?

If the idea of watching a video of yourself seems overwhelming, you are not alone. Be kind to yourself. Observe rather than critique. Starting with videoing 1-2 minutes during the tone or technique part of your practice may feel like a safe place to start. As you observe, imagine you are viewing a student or colleague. What feedback could you offer that would make a difference to their performance? The questions above are good areas to observe.

From there, record a phrase. Watch the movement.

As you build confidence in your ability to observe and identify things to do differently, you can begin to video longer sections, even challenging passages. Don’t forget to turn OFF the sound.

A next step is to link movement and sound. Observe how the movements you use inform sound quality and expression. For example, when you get the soaring lyrical section, shifting onto a leg limits access to full expression & nuance, or lifting the head up and back as you inhale stifles your ability to breathe efficiently.

Without this foundational information, you could practice for hours, weeks, and months and never feel fully confident in your abilities.

Begin recording yourself, turning off the sound, and observing movement for the valuable insights needed to fully realize your musical ideas.

Let me know what you find? Frustrated, reach out for support. I am an email away.

Be curious…