Tips for achieving technical accuracy?

[kelly_kelly]

I have an audition next Sunday, and I know my pieces very well, but somehow I can never pull off a performance without stumbling several times (and not always in the same places). It bothers me because (I think) I have decent interpretations, but the random technical errors really detract from the overall performance. I think my main plan is to practice slowly, but if you guys have any other helpful advice, I would appreciate it.

[lostinidlewonder]

It depends on what "stumbling" means. If it means you have to stop and work out where you are before you start again then you simply need to practice more. If it is small problems, like a single note slip then don't be too hard on yourself.

However when we assess our playing always play phrases of music at a time and understand the multiple muscular movements used to produce it. Sometimes you will have to fine tune what you have in your muscular memory that means a conscious observation of a single note or pattern etc in the phrase which is used to encourage physical control over the group.

If mistakes are random then it might be a focus issue. You might want to train yoruself how to maintain focus when you play. I have to stop myself from trying to think about which exact note to press or it can make me forget about the phrase in its entirety. This type of thinking must exist when you are consciously observing your music pushing for muscular memory, but when one wants to perform the thinking must be less, we have to trust in the automated movements of our hands but also have that conscious awareness to correct ourself if something goes wrong. If we are too aware it can cause errors because you might start to think about what comes naturally which gets mucked up when you think about it too much. Yeah its a confusing battle!

[simon_horsey]

Hi there

I posted this link somewhere else on the board - but hopefully it might help you too!

I have found with many of my students that problems in performance come from not practising under pressure. When you practise you are playing your own piano, in your own home without strangers listening... an audition is the opposite of this - so you haven't practised being under that kind of pressure.

One way to help is by playing games that put you under pressure when you are practising. I get my students to play the ladder game and other games to put them under different types of pressure when practising for performance. You can find the rules for the ladder game (and others) on https://www.essential-music-practice.com/practice-performing.html.

Normally I would suggest starting these games earlier than the point you are at now... but needs must...

I also suggest read The Inner Game of Music by Barry Green and W. Timothy Gallwey. This has many strategies for coping with the challenges of performance.

Hope this helps!
Simon