[Hornlist] Re: Book on stage fright and mental aspects of playingHorn List
Message text written by The Horn List >Cousins in his funny book "On Playing the Horn" suggests a small Drink before Playing. I'm not sure that in the long Time, that is very clever, though! < Dear All 'Farky' Cousins (now 86 years young) may be what some people would call an 'English eccentric' (from a family of high ranking clergymen) but he is also a man of phenomenal intelligence, witty, erudite, highly literate and highly educated. He makes no bones about the fact that nerves finished his playing career. However, I do not think that his comment about 'a little something' should be taken too seriously. In my days as a Health and Safety Representative - going to conferences, courses, reading and writing reports etc., I was once taken very seriously to task by a VERY famous clarinet player (long since retired). He waxed lyrical about the use of prescription drugs to combat nerves (propranolol, inderal, beta blockers - whatever you like to call them). He reeled off a list of famous orchestral players of the 30s and 40s (people still well known to historians of orchestras) saying "they could only play in front of an audience if they were drunk - blind drunk! - and they played well" Whether this is true or not I am not qualified to say. But I know that there are some orchestras over here where the use of beta blockers is rife and this has led to disquiet from some quarters who opine that "you can't go for a pint before the show, but it is OK to go on full of potentially dangerous drugs!" Perhaps Farquharson Cousins should have the last word - I once hear him say that "you have got to get into the right frame of mind; if Oberon is coming up, either you panic or you say - Oberon, lovely Oberon!" And the way that he said "Oberon, lovely Oberon" made it clear that all those Oberons which he must have played in the 50s and 60s were a very precious memory to him. Cheers Paul A. Kampen - 4th horn, Orchestra of Opera North (Leeds UK) ___ post: [EMAIL PROTECTED] set your options at http://music.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
[Hornlist] Re: Book on stage fright and mental aspects of playingHorn List
Hallo, I was very interested to read Prof Pizka's thoughts on nervosity in the Orchestra. I think, of course he is right when he writes: If one is suffering of stage fright, he or she should look for the sources. but isn't the purpose of this Book exactly that to find the Sources or a possible source? So I don't think it's quite right to say Books won't help probably or not much. True one can get too nervous if made to do a Task which is too difficult. Not always though, as many Horn players also do bad even without being nervous. Conversely, one can also get too excited even when the task is not at all difficult, the only Obstacle being then the Nervosity itsself. Even in the Amateur Orchestra if that is where it happens. True one should not attempt Things which one clearly can't do, not in Public anyway. And a good Teacher will advise against this. But not to assume that because Someone is nervous the Job is too hard for them. Those good players who struggle with nervosity have a heavier job than the others and sometimes still bring better results when they overcome it. But you have to get all into a certain routine. If you know, things will go easy (depends on your experience & fundamental preparation), why thinking of stage fright ? Also sometimes the Stagefright also comes when one is not thinking or expecting of it. Even when well enough prepared. Quit alcohol totally two weeks before the audition, the examination, the concert, - means no beer, no wine, no liquor, no cocktail, absolutely NONE. Watch how your nerves improve. Ooops, the nervousity & resulting stage fright are not gone ??? But your brain is able now to control it. That's the point. This unfortunately (perhaps fortunately!!) makes I think no difference for me. I think F. Cousins in his funny book "On Playing the Horn" suggests a small Drink before Playing. I'm not sure that in the long Time, that is very clever, though! Thinking of Sauerkraut is a good idea which I will try next Time. One has to like to be the center of the spectacle, one has to like to be the engine of something (Schumann). But stage fright just sitting in the amateur orchestra ? Why ? If the task is too high for you, delegate this task to the person who has no problem. It is more fun to part of the whole thing, than to fail as a leader of a section just because of stage fright. Supporting the better ones is big fun also. True one needs a certain Personality Aspect to be a soloist, but think of how many Solo players you know and how different Personalities they all have. Don't give up because of excitement. That's a Problem you can help by trying to change yourself, and this book may help. It is not yet time to condem yourself unless you turn into uncontrollered jelly ever time someone listens to you play middle C. Lots of experiences playing in public will be a certain help for the Nerves, but may not be adressing a more ground Problem which, if adressed, may help better. It's always good to play second next to a good first, even for normal high Players, and one can learn much. I was lucky to play second in Beethoven's Nr. 4 Yesterday. A Reminder that there can be moments of nervosity for the lower Players too! Sorry not to agree absolutely with Hans Pizka! greetings Benno Heinemann Germany (PS: I bought the book by Amazon and I'll write after what I think when I read it) ___ post: [EMAIL PROTECTED] set your options at http://music.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
RE: [Hornlist] Re: Book on stage fright and mental aspects of playingHorn List
There are better things working against stage fright than books written mostly by people suffering from stage fright & never have conquered that defect. If one is suffering of stage fright, he or she should look for the sources. Shy person, shy to produce oneself in front of a crowd Here books might help a bit, but not much People reaching out for the apples before they have arrived at the tree. Here the source for stage fright is the fact that the approach a task without having build up the foundation yet. The task is much too early, so no wonder about stage fright. With a careful teacher, a real teacher, an understanding teacher, they might master it by reducing their ambition to tasks which fit for their actual abilities. People who like to impress others by playing terrible difficult (high & fast) pieces (which they dont like themselves), much exaggerating their own abilities. No help for all the future. These people wont change their attitudes. Quit alcohol totally two weeks before the audition, the examination, the concert, - means no beer, no wine, no liquor, no cocktail, absolutely NONE. Watch how your nerves improve. Ooops, the nervousity & resulting stage fright are not gone ??? But your brain is able now to control it. That´s the point. Just think "sauerkraut" - "sauerkraut" & "sauerkraut" again, if emotions try to sweep you from the stage. See the audience as "cabbage heads" (sorry, my friend) or just coloured bubbles in the theatre. Believe me, it helps. But you have to get all into a certain routine. If you know, things will go easy (depends on your experience & fundamental preparation), why thinking of stage fright ? Books wont help much ! One has to like to be the center of the spectacle, one has to like to be the engine of something (Schumann). But stage fright just sitting in the amateur orchestra ? Why ? If the task is too high for you, delegate this task to the person who has no problem. It is more fun to part of the whole thing, than to fail as a leader of a section just because of stage fright. Supporting the better ones is big fun also. ___ post: [EMAIL PROTECTED] set your options at http://music.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
