When a performer sits down to play, it's likely that he is concerned he'll make a mistake. In Part II, we talked about the crippling power of vanity and how nervousness can ruin a performance. In addition to controlling one's attitude, a seasoned performer can also control his focus, bringing it to the primary element of any song, so that any mistakes will have limited impact on the overall performance.
I once attended a workshop where the question was asked, "Because it can be so difficult to sing and play at the same time, which task gets more attention?" The answer was definite: singing. The teacher explained that when a song is sung, the words take first precedence because they tell the story and capture the audience's attention. If a mistake is made on the accompanying instrument, it's less likely that the audience will notice than when words are flubbed or mumbled.
Other times, such as in the case of a classical piece, expression of the melody becomes most important. Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata is such a melancholy song that it can make you feel the same. It's not a technical piece, so one must use expression to make the song shine. Meanwhile, technique is the priority when playing the Flight of the Bumble Bee at the tempo needed to finish in just one minute (a feat I've never achieved).
Obviously we strive to play all the elements correctly, 100% of the time, but the truth is perfection is reserved for the experts. And whether we are talking about a child's first piano recital or your next big presentation to the board, the end result will be a more positive one if you can identify and give priority to the one thing that is most important at that moment in time.
I once attended a workshop where the question was asked, "Because it can be so difficult to sing and play at the same time, which task gets more attention?" The answer was definite: singing. The teacher explained that when a song is sung, the words take first precedence because they tell the story and capture the audience's attention. If a mistake is made on the accompanying instrument, it's less likely that the audience will notice than when words are flubbed or mumbled.
Other times, such as in the case of a classical piece, expression of the melody becomes most important. Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata is such a melancholy song that it can make you feel the same. It's not a technical piece, so one must use expression to make the song shine. Meanwhile, technique is the priority when playing the Flight of the Bumble Bee at the tempo needed to finish in just one minute (a feat I've never achieved).
Obviously we strive to play all the elements correctly, 100% of the time, but the truth is perfection is reserved for the experts. And whether we are talking about a child's first piano recital or your next big presentation to the board, the end result will be a more positive one if you can identify and give priority to the one thing that is most important at that moment in time.
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