| "So what quality is it that overcomes that kind of lapse?"
L. Fortissimo - I really don't know how my son was able to put his memory slips behind him. I think a big part of it comes from having auditioned so much over the years. Several of the teachers he has worked with over the years have taught him to try and focus on the note you are playing RIGHT NOW. Not the one you played a measure ago or the one you are playing next, but the note you are actually playing. Much easier said than done! But by learning to focus on the hear and now it is easier to not think about the stuff you flubbed up 5 minutes ago. I also think that it helped that the one of the judges made the comment telling him not to worry about it. An encouraging comment, even a very simple one, can help you to recenter yourself and focus more on what you are doing at the moment.
I tend to think that most judges WANT you to do well. They WANT to hear beautiful music. They are looking to accept people, not reject them. The problem is that they can only accept a few, but I think most of them have open minds and ears when auditioners walk in the room. |