Day One: Workshop On-stage Presentation
My first workshop of the day became On-stage Presentation by Bobby Rootveld of Duo NIHZ.
Subjects included “How do you appear on Stage?”, “What is your Attitude towards the Audience?”, “How do you get seated without tripping over Attributes like Foot Stools and Music Stands?” (it sounds strange, but this is a realistic subject!) and “How can you enter a Moment of Meditation before starting to play?”
Bobby also covered the player’s view on the audience, do you see the audience as a pack of wolves striving to devour you on the first slip you make in your play, or do you consider the audience a group of people who are willing to enjoy your play? Presumptions which clearly affect your nerves and your play if you think over pessimistic about the audience.
The presentation during playing was a subject too: As a player, do you dare to involve the audience in your phrasing, for instance looking in the direction of the audience at musically the right time.
Bobby briefly covered the subject of stage fright, this finger-paralysing and sweat-stimulating sense of fear which attempts to ruin your play. He had a few hints, but it is quite clear that a subject of stage fright, which has a complex nature and is experienced differently for everyone, did not fit completely in the workshop.
The participants made a number of coming-on runs, received and reacted to applause and were instructed by Bobby with a sense of humour.
I noticed, that playing by heart supports the stage presentation, a music stand forms a barrier between you and the audience (which provides a sense of safety at times, I must admit), although a smart arrangement of the stand can solve a bit of this barrier problem.