My second choice essay proved to be far superior to its precursor. "A Short Essay on the Life of a Pianist" by Graham Fitch captured what is like to play piano because you love it, but then also what it is like to put on a show and perform. Fitch also wrote what it takes to have a career in piano performance versus piano teaching and why, at the end of their education, many people find that they just don't have what it takes to successfully have their dream career. "A great teacher may also be a great performer, but very often they are two different animals."
I am not sure if Fitch knew it, but he not only wrote an essay for pianists, but also for any instrumentalist as well as any athlete. Being a piano player, I related to this essay no problem, but I found that I could switch piano with oboe with swimming and still find a a strong connection. To be able to craft such a versatile yet still very accurate essay is amazing to me.
"The secret of performance is to be able to get out of one's own way, and to free up the mind so it is not beset by doubts and insecurities (and therefore tensions) during the process of performing." I think any performer or athlete can agree that that quote from Fitch's essay could not be anymore true. Never in my life have I been able to perform a musical peace accurately and with a freed mind. My nerves have always had the upper hand. "Errors lead to terrors and then to possible paralysis." I know Fitch's statement is true because on the rare occasion that I am able to numb my mind before I race in a swim meet, I have been able to get out of my own way. After any of my best races ask me how I went so fast or ask me what I thought about my flip turns and I would have no clue. I turn off my mind and just let my body do what it knows so well how to do.
"Many find solace in the act of playing, a channel for self expression, an appreciation of the music, and the deep satisfaction of mastering an instrument." Fitch described those who live to perform but he also described the person in the quote above. I am the above person. While I am no wear near mastering the piano, I find that it is my outlet. No matter my mood, piano can fix it. It's like Bob the Builder! Anyway, Fitch truly knows what it is like to play alone not to impress others but to heal yourself. "I was just as smitten with music itself as I was with the piano."
To top off a wonderful essay, Fitch's writing style was perfect for his piece. Just like music, it crescendo and decrescendo. His use of unique words were black keys and the others were white. The piece ended calm like when a movie fades to dark.
Hey Cora! I think its great that you were able to find an article that you connect with so well. Just from reading your response I can also see how this is relevant in terms of an athlete. Many sports are just as much of a mental game as a they are a physical game. In volleyball, Coach Fortune always says that you have to picture in your head your serve going over the net and in the court before you serve it. sometimes you have to get out of your own head in order to be successful.
ReplyDeleteI think this could also apply to any vocal performer. There have been far too many times when I have frozen up before a performance. Adrenaline takes over and you live in the moment. That is what I love so much about performing though.
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