Tonight was the practice recital for my performance next weekend and I totally biffed it. Even though I have had the song memorized for nearly two months and have literally played it hundreds of times, I couldn't get through it in front a small gathering of fellow pupils. I stopped half-way through, almost lost my place, and then continued on slurring all of the notes together. I totally embarrassed myself.
After everyone else had gone, I was tempted to ask for another chance to play to redeem myself. But then it occurred to me... that's the whole point of performance. You only get one shot, one opportunity. You're either prepared for it or you aren't. I doubt that there was anyone there who thought I wasn't capable of playing that song given enough time. Nor did anyone care whether or not I could play if perfectly in the privacy of my own home.
The difference between being able to play a song and being able to perform a song is a whole lot of practice. Unfortunately, I hadn't really been practicing this song. See, I got the song to where I could play it pretty good and from that point on I PLAYED the song instead of PRACTICING it. I left the rehearsal recital committed to practice the hell out of this song for the next 9 days and hope that it's enough to not embarrass myself on the real performance.
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On a somewhat related note, yesterday in my Spanish drama class we walked through one of the plays for the first time since I'd memorized my lines, and I discovered that being able to recite the lines without a hitch by myself at home does not translate to performing them in front of others. But lucky for me, that was just a practice and I didn't need to impress anyone.
Why do music lessons and performance always have to go together?
Imagine how many people do not pursue music because they know the dreaded recital goes with the package.
There should be options, but usually they go together.
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