What Makes A Good Performance?

Hello Hello Everyone!

Competition season is among us! As I've been preparing my performances and classes, I've suddenly developped a competitiveness that I usually never have. I always enter competitions to gain performance practice and to gain feedback. Feedback is the only way that a musician can grow to gain full performance skills.

As this hunger to win started to consume me, I decided "How can I channel this into something productive?", so I decided that the key thing that makes or breaks a performance is a Good Performer.  There are 5 key elements to a Good Performer: 

1. Research
2. Technique
3. Singing with Integrity and Intensity
4. Emotion and Engaging the Audience 
5. Stage Presence 

You see, they may seem pretty basic as if we are going back to the basic rudiments of performing, but it never hurts to sharpen your skills!

1. Research

You may already know the basics to researching a piece, such as text/translations, the composer, the era, etc. But there are a few other things you may want to think about...

• Who is your character? 
• What has just happened to them? 
• What is going to happen afterward? 
• Where is this character? 
• What kind of emotion are they feeling? 
• Are they feeling more than one emotion at this time?  
• Does your character come to any decisions at the end of this piece? 
• Who are they talking to?

As a musician, you should be able to answer all these questions for each work that you do. It may come easier for Aria's where the character is already set up and the plot, etc, but for lieder or french melodie, you will have to think of some of these answers. 

The next key step is to figure out how you want to show this. Whether its a simple hand movement, emphasis on a key word or even a change in facial emotions at the strike of a piano chord, we will get to this in the Emotion section.

2. Technique 

While singing, you should be able to project to the back of any room and/or hall. There is nothing worse then not being able to hear what the musicians are performing! At the same time, your voice needs to be balanced when singing with accompaniment. The accompaniment is supposed to compliment your singing, but at the same time, you both should be working in harmony (pardon the pun...). If only one or the other is heard, then your balance is off.  If you feel that the piano is over powering you at times, take a few steps forward instead of sitting completely in the crook of the piano. 
Technique should be something that you are constantly working on with your vocal coach (or if you don't have a vocal coach, you should really get one!!). The more you work on your technique, the stronger your voice will be and the easier it will be to produce sound.  

3. Singing with Integrity and Intensity

Singing with intensity shows that you're passionate about singing and about the piece you are performing. You should always sing with intensity even if you dislike a specific work that you are singing. Singing with intensity will give you focus and drive, engaging your mind as you perform. 

Now on to singing with integrity. You may be saying "now how the hell am I supposed to do THAT, Tessa!?"

It's simpler than it sounds. Singing with integrity is taking full responsibility of your work and owning every second you have on stage. This ere of confidence will make you feel better, and will make you feel like you are singing everything accurately. If you make a mistake while singing with integrity, 9 times out of 10, no one will notice!  

Another suggestion would be to breathe with integrity. Use the breaths to either add emotion to the piece or the character or use these breaths to propel your voice giving it energy (especially for those high notes!)

4. Emotion and Engaging the Audience 

Someone once said that the true definition of music is “Emotion that you can hear.” Somehow, we are all able to connect with music. It makes us feel something... which is the beauty of art! According to psychology, the most dominant emotion in the room is the most contagious. If you are in a mood that portrays the mood of the character or the piece, then the audience will be drawn to you. The bigger the connection you have with the audience, the more attention they will have, bringing them deeper into the song.
Analyze your work, figure out what the emotions are in the piece. Find something to relate to in the work and really convey it. This is the key way to get a reaction out of the audience.

5. Stage Presence

There is one rule to stage presence : fake it till you make it. Stage Presence is all about your confidence. As a performer you are so exposed to judgement and opinions. It's a tough job as a musician/performer and being confident in yourself is crucial! Whether you are truly confident in yourself or not, the fake it till you make it rule always applies. If you stay calm on stage, you will look flawless and captivating. 

Be confident in yourself and confident in all your work. It's the least you can do for yourself!

I'm hoping these tips will help you all out and like all the other posts, if you have any questions, comments or concerns, let me know in the comments down below!

Until next time,