| Author |
Subject |
matthias24
Registered
User
(9/6/00 9:50:10 pm)
Reply |
ok. I
have a week and a half.
I am playing in my church on the
17th. The song is an acoustic guitar/cello duet as a background to a
singer. This is my first time to ever play cello in front of people.
The part is very easy, but I am terrified nonetheless! I'm not
afraid of being in front of people. I just (rather unexpectedly) got
over that whole Stage Fright factor last winter. I am scared because
I have only been playing cello for 10 months. I have the exact same
song on CD (in fact, that's how I got the music. By listening to the
CD and writing it out) and I play along with the CD when I practice.
I practice being in tune with the CD, and I had my older sister
listen to me playing along with the CD to get her opinion. I sounded
decent, except for the D string that was out of tune.
But
still, I'm scared! I'm sure that all of you could pick up on all the
"What-if's," so I won't take the time to list them.
What
makes it all the worse is that I play on the 17th, and my next cello
lesson isn't until the 18th! AH! Ok. I feel much better now. Not
that I'm expecting anyone to reply to this, but thought that I could
vent anyway.
~ Aaron ~
|
Bobbie
Registered
User
(9/6/00 11:28:56 pm)
Reply |
Re: ok.
I have a week and a half.
First, your church audience will be
very forgiving. They will enjoy the music and especially the cello
even if you aren't perfect.
Try to arrange at least one
practice in the church itself, and more would be better. The
acoustics may be very different than what you are used to, and you
want to feel completely secure about what the guitarist and vocalist
are going to do. My accompaniest and I always figure out where we
are likely to goof up and how to find each other if that
happens.
When I am going to play in church, I look to see
what friendly faces are there before it is my turn to play, but then
I try not to look when I actually play, as it tends to throw me if I
look up.
|
zambocello
Registered User
(9/7/00 1:13:05 am)
Reply |
playing
in church
Your congregation WANTS to hear you
play well and will overlook (overhear?) any number of sins -- cello
playing or otherwise -- to enjoy and be moved by the positive
qualities in your playing. We ALL play out of tune sometimes so
don't let yourself be bothered worrying about that. You probably
know the song inside out from copying the parts. That's the best
therapy for nerves: being prepared.
Enjoy the opportunity to
play for your church!
|
Ellen
G 
Registered
User
(9/7/00 6:35:52 am)
Reply |
Re:
playing in church
Yep, everything everyone said I
agree with. I agree with you, too, I would be scared. The first
public place I played was an art show. I ignored the spectators and
focused on the music, the people I played with, and saw nothing
else. Even the lady who was breathing down my neck reading my
music... If I can get through it, you certainly can.
The
congregation already likes you because you're part of their
"family." And there are three of you. There's safety in numbers.
You'll, do great Aaron.
|
JanJan
Registered
User
(9/7/00 7:21:29 am)
Reply |
Re: ok.
I have a week and a half.
Aaron, congratulations on your first
church cello gig!
I'll never forget what a very dear pianist
friend shared with me once. We were going to play Faure's Sicilliene
during the offering at our church, and after our practice I
mentioned how nervous I got every time I played in church. I also
told her how I'd even played that same Faure piece at a master class
at BU that my teacher brought me to - and I was surprised that I
didn't feel nervous there.
She puzzled over this and said,
"Well, at the master class you played for people who did not know or
love you. And you played for people who would know EVERY mistake you
made. When you play here, everybody already knows and loves you, and
the best part is that if you make a mistake, most of them won't even
know it!" I realized she was right, that playing in church was far
less intimidating than what I'd done at BU.
Keep that in
mind when you play. The people love you, Aaron. And most of them
won't even know if you make mistakes . . . and even if they do,
they'll forgive you. And then there's the whole ministry vs.
performance thing, which I'm sure you're aware of.
Let us
know how it goes!
Blessings to you,
Janet
|
Lisa
Shipman
Registered
User
(9/7/00 7:55:46 am)
Reply |
Playing
in Church.
The one point that has been made
that I really would stress is practice before the performance day IN
the church. Also make sure you practice with the people you will be
playing with. I have not had the fun of playing my cello in front of
anyone but family so far, but I do accompany school students at
state competitions (I play piano, they play whatever instrument). I
always insist on getting together at least twice to rehearse. Last
year I helped out a clarinet player whose pianist bowed out last
minute. I got the music the day before competition and we could not
get together to go through it. It was so hard to try to stay
together (seems he didn't get with the original pianist either).
Knowing what the other parts sound like and how they fit together is
crucial.
I know you will do fine. After you rehearse a few times,
relax and enjoy yourself. The congregation will love it! Play out
with confidence and if you hit a wrong note play that out too and
pretend it was right. Unless they are a cello player whose played
that exact piece, they won't have a clue!
Let us know how it
goes.
|
Paul
Tseng ICS Staff
Administrator
(9/7/00 9:53:47 am)
Reply
 |
Re: ok.
I have a week and a half.
Hi Aaron,
Good words from
everyone all around. All I have to say is remember why you are
playing and to whose glory you are
playing.
Self-consciousness is the destroyer of all things
spiritual. So take the focus off yourself when you play and focus on
the music and the Glory of God, which you are already accustomed to
doing when you worship in church anyway.
Remember, being
imperfect is not a sin (it's in our nature), but where it abounds,
so does grace.
Many blessings to you as you bless your
congregation with your gifts.
Our prayers are with
you.
Paul Tseng, Cello Chat Administrator
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The San Diego Cello Society
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