Performance Experience Isabella Martinez

  1. I want to enjoy my next performance. When I’m performing I usually get really fixated on my technique. Am I going to be able to hit the high E flat correctly? Is my phrasing okay? Am I emoting? What am I doing with my body? Do I look awkward? The next time I perform, I don’t want to think about any of that. I have to trust myself and know that I have prepared enough, and all I have to do is get up on stage and enjoy. I want to be able to be in the moment, relaxed, not thinking about the audience or what anyone will think of me- I want to become a conduit for the music, a vessel that it flows through. And whatever mistakes happen, I don’t want to get linger on it or beat myself up for it. I just want to let myself enjoy the music.
  2. I want to come across as confident. I’ve been working on my posture a lot lately. I slouch my shoulders a lot- I think it’s a confidence issue. I want to walk on stage with my shoulders rolled back, chest out, and head held high. I want my audience to think “Oh yeah, she knows what she’s doing”.
  3. I also think that I leave my performances quickly. The last time I performed in voice lab, I left the stage and sat down so quickly that Beasley had to call me back and remind me that I needed to stay on stage for feedback. I think I usually get really relieved that I got through a performance that I forget to take time with my bow and give my audience the proper thank you. The next time I perform, I don’t want to rush out in a panic. I want to feel proud of my performance, bow, smile at the audience, and walk off calmly (not in a crazed sprint).

3. I have a few of my performances videotaped. I don’t go over them with my voice teachers, but the terrible/great thing about my family is that they play through my entire musical theatre catalog anytime I have family over. I have watched my 9th- college performances in front of countless family members. While my aunts, uncles, and cousins all give me high praise, my parents are quick to point out my mistakes.

My dad: “Chabelita- look how still you’re standing. Your arms are practically glued to your side. That’s from all the years you spent in choir.”

Me: “thanks papi”

Dad: “No, it’s not a bad thing, you don’t do that anymore- see, let’s watch the Into the Woods one, by that performance you learned how to move your arms.”

Mom: “Yeah but maybe you could’ve stayed still a little more in that one- you were moving all over the stage”

Even when I don’t ask for it, I get constant advice and criticism from my family. It’s actually helped. Although maybe I should start getting advice from professionals with theatre/music degrees.

4. My performance anxiety isn’t as bad as it used to be. It usually happens a couple of minutes before I go onstage. It’s never negative, it’s usually just nervous excitement. I usually get the nervous shits (which go away as soon as I get onstage). I try to warm up my body by stretching, tensing up my muscles, then relaxing them, and doing some jumping jacks or squats or just shaking my limbs around to get my body warm and loose.

5. I definitely have felt discomfort during practice. There’s the physical discomfort that comes from practicing in my upper belt- if I work this for too long I will get physically exhausted and I have to be careful that I don’t do serious damage. But there’s also another type of discomfort. The practice rooms at JU aren’t exactly sound proof, so pretty much anyone walking by can hear you. And god forbid you’re in one of the jank practice rooms without the little window curtain. I absolutely hate it when I’m practicing something new or difficult and people walk by and look into my practice room. I know most people do it without any bad intent- they’re probably just curious to see who’s in there. But god it makes me so nervous. I hate it. So I always try to practice at weird hours when people aren’t in pfa. It doesn’t bother me as much as it used to, but it’s still a little uncomfortable.

6. I’m never in a practice room for more than 45 minutes. On a typical day I sing for about 2-3 hours (that includes voice lessons, choir, and musical rehearsals) so when I’m in a practice room, I try to make my time as efficient as possible so I’m not tiring my voice. I usually work for like 10-15 minutes and then take a short 2 or 3 minute break. I will sing through a piece, work trouble sections, and then drink some water and rest my voice. I try not to go on my phone during breaks. I try to roll out my shoulders and check my posture during breaks.

7. I’ve actually been working on this one for quite some time now. I decided to go dairy free about 8 months ago in order to improve my vocal and general health (dairy isn’t good for asthma or singing and I have/do both). I’ve been trying to work out 2-3 times a week and get off all electronics an hour before bed to ensure better sleep. I also sleep with a humidifier every night. The humidifier has been the key to my health. I used to get sick like 5 or 6 times a year and it was really making my life a living hell. I never knew if I was going to make it through a performance because I almost always had a cold or laryngitis. But ever since I started using a humidifier, I haven’t gotten sick. So over the course of this past year I’ve been trying to develop better and better habits to ensure my health. I want to sing until I get tired of it, and I don’t want my health to ever get in the way or keep me from doing what I love.

Performance Experience Responses- Zoe Rosas

  1. Describe how you want to experience your next performance. Imagine walking on stage: How do you want to feel physically? What kinds of thoughts do you want to be having? What emotions do you want to experience?

-When I walk onstage, I want to feel tall, confident, and excited. I want to have positive encouraging thoughts while staying calm and relaxed. I am in the zone. I want to feel happy and emotional.

2. How would you like to come across to your audience? What image do you want to convey through your stage entrances, exits, and bows?

-I want to come across as confident, present, in the moment, fresh, new, and different. Through stage entrances, exits, and bows, I want the image of professionalism, confidence, and gratitude.

3. Have you recently videotaped a performance and later watched it with a mentor to discuss your stage presence? If not, when might you be able to do this?

-Yes. In my next lesson we discuss how I felt, what was good, etc. If we were to play it back, we listen more than watch it.

4. How do you experience performance anxiety? Describe your specific symptoms:

  1. Physical

-I get a little sweaty and some butterfly like symptoms. I get a little cold and dry, so I make sure to drink lots of water.

2. Thought Patterns (self-talk)

-I tell myself to do the best I can and to live in the moment. To stay calm, but excited. That nerves are good because it means I care.

3. Feelings

-I feel nervous yet excited and a little antsy because I just want to go and perform and not wait.

5. Of the interventions described for handling anxiety in this chapter, which do you plan to work on?

-Either, circle of excellence or taking a deep breath.

6. Have you ever experienced discomfort during or after practice? What have you done as a result of feeling this discomfort?

-I have gone to rest and relax to stop the negative thoughts. I give myself a break and then return to work and fix what was discomforting.

7. How often do you take breaks during practice sessions? How long are these breaks? What do you do during these breaks?

-I do not take many breaks. My breaks are me taking a moment to breathe in the silence before moving on to a next song to work on. My practices are an hour long.

8. To help ensure a lifetime of healthy music making, what else (beyond taking breaks) can you do to help safeguard your performance health?

-I have a practice of positive thinking in your life in general. I figure out what gets me to relax and be able to disconnect from all the craziness for some selfcare and then safely return to reality. I remind myself why I do this and why I love what I do.

Performance Questions – Landon

  1. Describe how you want to experience your next performance. Imagine walking on stage: How do you want to feel physically? What kinds of thoughts do you want to be having? What emotions do you want to experience? 

I want to get up on stage with some of my closest friends I’ve made at JU and make music and live in the moment! I want to inspire Luke and Jacinto to play their best.  All coming from the heart and I want people to see that what we represent is an artform. I don’t want to think at all…I just want to play and see what happens.  

  1. How would you like to come across to your audience? What image do you want to convey through your stage entrances, exits, and bows? 

I try to express myself while I’m playing. I’ve been told in the past that people can see how much fun I’m having just from the way I play. When I play, I tend to drown out the audience, unless I’m soloing. When I’m accompanying, I’m trying to give the soloist everything they need in order to really get everything they need out their performance. I come on and off the stage with a smile, it shows the audience that I’m enjoying myself.    

  1. Have you recently videotaped a performance and later watched it with a mentor to discuss your stage presence? If not, when might you be able to do this? 

I have done this before. However, stage presence, was not the topic at the time. Rather it was my musical performance. We looked at the good things and even during the not so good parts my mentor was encouraging, and we’ve since then ironed out my deficiency’s. This next round of performances I will discuss this with him.   

  1. How do you experience performance anxiety? Describe your specific symptoms: 
  1. physical 
  1. thought patterns (self-talk) 
  1. Feelings 

I am extremely fortunate to say that I do not experience performance anxiety. This is based on my personality and experiences dealing with pressure from wrestling. Even when I am on stage without a chart to read in a big band or if I don’t know the tune being called at a jam session, I am adaptable enough to fake it and make it. This is the truth.  

  1. Of the interventions described for handling anxiety in this chapter, which do you plan to work on? 

For me? Taking a deep breath. Sometimes all I need to do is take a deep breath and I’m ready to go. 

  1. Have you ever experienced discomfort during or after practice? What have you done as a result of feeling this discomfort? 

As a drummer, I have had to deal with fatigue in my right leg. I’ve had two knee surgeries and they have really taken a toll on my ability to drum with my right leg. Sometimes my leg just tuckers out during practice because my fine muscles have atrophied due to surgery. I do a lot of technical exercises to ensure that I don’t experience discomfort while playing.  

  1. How often do you take breaks during practice sessions? How long are these breaks? What do you do during these breaks? 

It depends. When I’m playing mallets. I usually do 20 minutes on 5 minutes off. This is to give myself a break from standing long periods at a time. It also helps because If I stand for a long time my knee starts to hurt. When I take a break, I disconnect myself from my music and allow my brain to be away from the shed. This helps me not be distracted when practicing. A good break ensures optimal performance. 

  1. To help ensure a lifetime of healthy music making, what else (beyond taking breaks) can you do to help safeguard your performance health? 

I really need to watch my weight. Although I would say I’m still decently fit. I want to lose more weight and be more active. I feel this would help my stamina for standing and reduce the amount of breaks I need to take when playing mallets, or if I’m in rehearsal during orchestra or wind band.  

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