This past semester, my writing class at college had the opportunity to read legendary choreographer Twyla Tharp's book, The Creative Habit. The book itself is phenomenal, and I appreciate how Tharp uncovers the mysteries of creativity, and how it is initiated in the first place. The second chapter (called "Rituals of Preparation") investigates how activities that precede our rehearsals or performances can set the tone for what follows. In other words, having a specific ritual to begin your creative time signifies to your mind and body that it is time to focus. 

             

                I've always had a fascination with pre-performance rituals. Over the years I've observed my teachers and colleagues and collected their tips and tricks for preparing mentally and physically. 

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• When preparing to perform a piece from memory, don't forget to do plenty of mental practice. This is when you visualize the sheet music, "feel" the motions without actually doing them, and "hear" the intervals and phrases. All in all, you are immersing yourself in the experience of practicing, and the best part is, you can do this anywhere!

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• Naps: As embarrassing as it is for my 22 year-old self to admit, I still take a nap every day. I can't function without it. However, I've learned that it is even more important to rest up before a big performance (unless it's in the morning). We all could use an excuse for more sleep, right?

 

• SmartWater: A friend recommended this years ago, and I’ve been drinking it ever since. I like to get a BIG bottle or two and start drinking it the day before a performance or competition. I believe that the electrolytes empower your body before a performance. 

 

• If you perform without music, always remember that you have three methods of memory to fall back on: visual, physical, and auditory. If one jumps out the window, you still have backup!

 

• Arriving to the performance venue early: One of my closest teachers (who also happens to be a kickass performer) advised me to get to competitions at least one hour ahead of time. This allows you to get settled, warm up, familiarize yourself with the space, and get in the proper mindset.

 

• The right mindset: A teacher once explained how nerves impact our perception of reality: "Now remember, to your ears, a little kid playing Twinkle Twinkle in the warm-up room is going to sound better than you, but that's not reality! When you're nervous, something crazy happens psychologically that alters how you hear others. Don't let it throw you off!"

 

• In the moments leading up to a performance, try to play the opening phrase of the piece a few times. If the situation prevents you from playing at full blast, at least try to visualize the notes and your sound, movements, etc.

 

• Plan for afterward: My mom and I started a tradition where we would do something fun after every stressful performance. This could be having a movie night or eating a special meal. The one thing I should mention about this tradition is that it can signal more than just temporary anxiety. If you start noticing that every performance causes you an incredible amount of stress, then I recommend evaluating whether you are truly happy with the career path you have chosen.

 

• Most importantly, remember that no one will die if you mess up. I'm always amazed by how many professional artists take mess-ups so seriously. It's actually quite sad witnessing them get so caught up in perfection; can you imagine how miserable this kind of life must be? Do yourself a favor and be human.