Inspiration
Musings and tips to experiment with…
Silver linings the second time around
Having performed the complete cycle of Beethoven’s violin sonatas in February 2020 with American pianist Kate Boyd, we had originally planned to perform the cycle again later that year. But of course, COVID had other plans for us and the soonest that we could rearrange for our second cycle was for 10-17 January 2023 – almost 3 years later.
With the first of these concerts now just a day away, I’ve been reflecting on the new opportunities that presented themselves because of the enforced ‘change of plans’, and the silver linings have been numerous and rather wonderful.
Building Confidence
Radio New Zealang Concert asked me for advice around confidence, and in particular if it can be built.
I believe it can.
You can read what I had to say about it all on their website: Confidence Tricks – some tips for musical performance.
Effort, Age and Survival
It is over a month since my last blog post and with the 6 weeks that have passed, we are well and truly in mid-summer here in Central Otago.
I have been systematically working through the 10 Beethoven violin sonatas, regularly inspired by the awesome landscapes outside my window, and accompanied by my trusty sidekick – Coco the cat.
It turns out one of the biggest current challenges is physical fatigue.
A reset from the inside out
Having previously performed 6 of the 10 Beethoven violin sonatas more than 20 years ago, it has been a lovely process coming back to the familiar, as well as discovering the new. Primarily due to the work I have been doing over the last 2 years getting to the nitty-gritty of my performance philosophies, these incredibly pristine works of Beethoven are proving to be an absolute gift for me.
Where to from here?
The next three months are super exciting for me, with 3 concerts confirmed in Mid-Feb 2020 for the performance of all 10 Beethoven sonatas within three days…and all in my new gorgeous neighbourhood of Central Otago.
It’s quite possible that I am naïve to the full enormity of this project – but one thing is for sure, sinking my teeth into these works again is a true treat, and the magnitude of the project is just what I am now needing at this point in my life.
Mountains and overcoming self-consciousness
I love mountains - always have, always will. Having recently moved to live amongst the Southern Alps of New Zealand, I am lucky enough to interact daily with these magnificent mountains. I am acutely aware of the support and inspiration they give me as a creative...
Acknowledging the positive
Beware of your greatest strengths! Shakespeare is quoted as saying “your greatest strength begets your greatest weakness”. As performers, one of our most valuable strengths is our skill in self-critiquing. We are highly trained in the ability to judge and...
Discovering whole-body awareness
Reflections from a piano classInvited to explore ListenFeelPlay philosophies in an Auckland University piano class, four talented young pianists and I experimented together, witnessing and demonstrating, on the spot, the power and relevance of whole-body...
Be true to your own creative voice
One of the lessons I have learnt over and over again through my career has been the importance of honouring your own voice, your own perspective and your own self-expression. In order to do this, you must pay close attention to your creative intuition, and have the...
Taking ownership of your confidence
I used to think of confidence as something you either have or you don’t have, but in fact confidence is something you 'do', or more to the point often ‘don’t do’…to varying degrees. Let me explain. It was somewhat of a lightbulb moment for me when I realised that...
Attitude is everything
"Attitude is everything" It’s a common saying and personally I couldn’t agree more. When it comes to successfully and confidently expressing yourself and having a great time in the process, awareness of your attitude allows for a wealth of opportunities. Do you adopt...
The mind+body connection
Mind+body connection is at the heart of creative ease and flow. As a human being, your mind has the potential to be your greatest asset or greatest downfall, and everything in between. By learning to objectively observe your thoughts, your mental habits, and your...
Clarity of intention
Gaining clarity of intention when creating is vital and liberating. Too often we muddle our way through a learning process without really taking care to ask 'what do I really want?' When we consistently stop and ask a few simple questions about what we really want,...
Objective listening
Over my years as a violinist, I have come to the conclusion that the most powerful way to develop my playing is to pay extraordinary attention to both the intention: what I intend to hear as I play, and the actual: what I actually hear as I play. These may seem to be...
Logo Inspiration
The ListenFeelPlay logo represents the integration of three foundational elements for inspiring and unleashing performance creativity and confidence – and loving it!
Listen – green diamond – symbolic of nature, growth and harmony
Feel – blue circle – symbolic of emotion, intuition and confidence
Play – orange star – symbolic of creativity, enthusiasm and fun
Together they are bright, optimistic and joyful
Together they blossom
Thanks to the gorgeous and talented Suzanne Day for this delightful logo that makes me smile