Do My Students REALLY Need Performance Skills?

Even if your students appear to be tracking quite well with their performances please remember:

1. You can never really know what is going through their minds unless they tell you.  It is not uncommon for students to downplay, hide and even deny any problems they may have dealing with the stress and pressure of a live performance.  Although they may be very competent, and appear composed they can still be filled with doubt and lack confidence.  Furthermore, a performance that may appear to have been enjoyable and successful from an audience perspective can often be perceived very differently (even traumatically) in the mind of the performer.  Performers tend to judge their own performances far more negatively focussing on mistakes, intonation problems and how uncomfortable they felt, with an overriding concern about what others are thinking.
2. As your students become more advanced they are going to be dealing with higher expectations (from themselves and others) and be far more aware of flaws in their playing.  This leads to more self-criticism, greater pressure and an increase in anxiety.
3. To consider what external pressures and other life factors may come into play that can contribute to higher general stress and anxiety levels which will ultimately affect their performance.
4. You only see them in certain types of performances (eg. performance class, school concerts).  It would be rare to have the opportunity to see how they cope in exams and auditions which are far more testing circumstances.  Performers can often respond quite differently under these conditions for many reasons.  One of the biggest factors is that there is more at stake in these types of performances.  Students’ often perceive exams and auditions as being very important to their VCE mark or career.  These types of performances can act as catalysts or pressure points causing an unexpected spike in nerves, tension, worry and even panic.

Performance mastery skills are not just important for those currently experiencing problems but are essential to anyone who would like to improve or enhance their performances.  Furthermore, well established PM skills will help avoid significant problems down the track.  Use them as a preventative measure to equip your students with the necessary skills to manage any challenges or issues that may arise in the future.