Learn Faster, Perform Better
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That is the title of a book by Molly Gebrian, who is a neuroscientist as well as a musician. I don’t have the book yet (planning on ordering it) but it was well recommended by a musician I know on Facebook as “game changing.” Also well-reviewed elsewhere.
Basically practice technique informed by new knowledge of how the brain works most effectively.
She also has videos on YouTube if you want to get the flavor of what she’s talking about.
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Very interesting! Will check out her YT page.
She also has her own site with a video course that can be purchased. She compares the course to her YT videos here:
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Funny you should mention this, @RealPlayer , someone at Piano Tell introduced me to her book, we a group of us ended up having a zoom session with her. It was really neat!
I have not finished the book yet… but I think it’s definitely worth reading, esp. for someone who performs professionally.
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Just came today. I'll start reading tonight.
The concept reminded me a bit of a book from a long while back that was titled something like the Inner Game of Music. The author of that book was modeling on a bestseller that called the Inner Game of Tennis. The author noted his deep fear of playing the viola in front of audiences. He described in some detail his nervousness and how it was especially bad when being graded on performance at Indiana University. My favorite remembrance from the book was when he described having the good fortune of having a guest juror on the jury reviewing his performance. The "guest" who would be sitting in was William Primrose. For those of you who don't know, some folks have expressed the opinion that William Primrose is the greatest violist...of ALL TIME - like being asked to be critiqued by Franz Liszt for the piano, Segovia for the classical guitar or Paganini for violin. Not a happy moment for the author.
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I don’t have any fear of getting up in front of an audience…but I sure wouldn’t mind some tips on practicing effectively, and accomplishing more in less time.
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I’m one of those weirdos who loves performing but still gets the shakes!
Back around 2005-2006, I was preparing for a recital where I played several pieces. A year or so before I had had a major crash and burn stage fright event, so in preparation for the recital, I read as many books as I could find about dealing with stage fright.
The Inner Game was one of my favorites.
The recital went well btw.