Musical Performance

Musical Performance

Music is essentially a creative art form. It is ephemeral, esoteric, beauty in sound, vibration that transcends and inspires the soul. To learn to perform music at the highest level takes longer than to train as a surgeon, lawyer or physicist.

It is an exploration into the divine, an important worthy pursuit in itself such as the kind of study undertaken by a Buddhist monk or Indian Saddhu. It is an exploration into the potential of the self also...the personal strength, the gaining of perfect coordination of the body - cooperation of all the muscles, tongue, fingers, whole body posture. And the breathing...the control of the life force, the breath activating the Chi and going beyond the physical.

Whole brain integration happens - the left brain controlling the logical aspects working with the right brain’s intuition and imagination. The heart is activated to transcend the ego and feel and project love.

And playing music is exhilarating!

Performance Ideals

IDEAS on PERFORMANCE

Brief excerpts from various Vallis-Davies articles (from Pan -journal of British Flute Society, Double Reed News Magazine, International Double Reed Society Magazine -USA, Sheet Music, BBC Music Magazine etc)

Don’t merely play the flute, play the room

Spread joy with your tone and have a smile in your eye

Make every note of a scale a pearl in a string of pearls

With every note transform our world into a more beautiful place

Go out into nature and experience the stillness, the gentle breezes and the forceful winds...experiment with breathing these qualities into the instrument

Music is art from the heart, to make a better world

It’s not for our ego, it’s not for exam success, it’s not for any competitive reasons. Music is way above all this. Bury all egotistical thoughts, and concentrate instead on projecting the kindest possible musical experience. Exude a calm, relaxed authority - smile and share the ease and love of playing this music

It is much better to perform a simple piece with beauty, enjoying the tone colours, the vibrations, the expression and the moods, than put your audience on edge by attempting to play a piece beyond your standard. Always aim to truly communicate. To make a connection

Express the music as though it is a living, breathing organic expression of the imagination in this moment

It’s desirable for any musician to cultivate an attitude of kindness and forgiveness to people and society in general - an innate warmth and compassion will always come across in performance

Regard your audience with appreciation and generosity of spirit; as individuals who love music and feel benevolent towards you. Give them a good time!

Listen to the beauty of the silence before playing. Then let the first note emanate from this total silence. Conjure up a feeling of beauty and then physically project this feeling into the first note or improvised phrase. Every note is a gift

Performance can be offered at virtually any level. Even a novice player can learn to play a few notes with thoughtful beauty and concentration. With the best of intentions even the simplest collection of notes can have meaning

Nerves are eradicated when we concentrate on real heartfelt sharing with our audience

Give, give, give - offer your audience a wonderful present, a wonderful gift

If the focus is on offering an authentic performance, does this mean a boring experience for the audience? A pious, careful and introvert interpretation? No! It should be a celebration of the sound world - an awareness of the audience as receiver of divinity through this music. Communication of the thought-forms stimulated by the music on the page

Extend your imaginative powers to build up a multi-coloured palette of expression. Practise mental visualisation of inspiring rural scenes, gritty urban scenes, sunlit beach scenes - feel the ocean spray and project the enjoyment and freedom into your music. Always imagine, feel, then play

Philosophies of Open Academy

Specialist Flute & Oboe Tuition