Unraveling Distraction: The Struggle to Stay Focused
Staying on task is HARD. Especially during an orchestra audition.
That's why we’re going to spend a lot of time talking about focus in the upcoming Audition Boot Camp next month.
Why is this so frustrating?
Because most musicians leave auditions to chance, and it doesn’t have to be this way.
Whether or not you’re attending the Boot Camp, here’s something I want you to know: in an audition, your brain is in fight-or-flight mode.
Basically, you’re freaking out.
Ready for a solution?
The practice techniques that worked great in a calm practice room don’t hold up under the pressure of an audition. One of the things I’ve seen work best is learning to create a warm, happy bubble in which you can play the music.
You know how great you play when your favorite teacher is counting you off, and singing the orchestra part along with you?
You can (and should) recreate that feeling for each excerpt.
And if you train yourself to recreate that warm, happy bubble, every time you play, you can conjure it when you need it most.
I call this bubble the “pre-shot routine.”
The Pre-Shot Routine
It’s different for each excerpt, but it helps you get the tempo, tone, and musicality correct when your brain is going haywire. If you really want to know more about it, check out Golf Is Not a Game of Perfect, by Bob Rotella.
The pre-shot routine looks different for golfers and musicians (obviously), but you’ll get the gist. And that book is like health food for your mental outlook–I strongly recommend Rotella’s approach for anyone who has to balance practice and performance in stressful situations.
If you’ve been reading my material for a while, you’ve heard me talk about the pre-shot routine. But do you really understand it? Do you have one for each excerpt? Does your pre-shot routine really help you in auditions? If the answer to any of those questions is “no,” you need to join us. We’ll break the concept down and build your pre-shot routine back up, so you’ll have a “happy bubble” anytime you need it.
Have a great summer!
Chris @ Honesty Pill
P.S. Want to join me for a 3-day, immersive, virtual experience that will revolutionize your practice, performances, and auditions?
