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3 day workshop companion!
Live Workshops
Performing in The Zone - Lecture/Workshop
A workshop designed to introduce key concepts from the book Performing in The Zone.
Workshop goals
Workshop duration:
Workshop content:
* To explain why we all perform at different levels
* To introduce the phenomenon of performance arousal and explain how it can help or hinder a performer
* To create motivation to achieve an optimal level of performance arousal
* To explain the body/mind relationship
* To demonstrate specific exercises designed to help performers achieve an
ideal state of mind both before and during performances
* 60/90/120+ minutes
* Introduction – how to get the most out of this workshop: active vs. passive participation
* Introduction – my story
* Why we perform at different levels:
The Alternative Performance Equation
* Performance arousal – anxiety and excitement
* Why we experience performance arousal – your Autonomous Nervous System
* What is The Zone?
* How much positive performance arousal do you need for your performing situations?
* A motivational exercise: What, why and how?
* The power of focus
* How to control performance arousal:
The body/mind relationship
* How to control performance arousal:
Technique: Going Peripheral
* How to control performance arousal:
Technique: Qi Gong standing meditation
* How to control performance arousal:
Techniques for outer and inner layers
* The importance of structure – Practising Performing
* Conclusion – recap of workshop
* Conclusion – recommended reading
A recent review for this workshop:
"We all enjoyed Jon's workshop "Performing in The Zone" on Monday. Jon has fabulous presentation skills mixed with very positive energy and humour. The students I spoke to loved it and we all learned a lot with good stimulating and simple exercises to try at home. I highly recommend for him to come back and do a piano class, a string class, a voice class and another repeat WW/Brass class! His expertise is of interest for all instruments and is inspiring for all."
- Uwe Grodd, Associate Professor, Auckland University School of Music
Orchestral Auditions 101
A 3-day workshop designed to help you as an orchestral musician get better results in orchestral auditions.
Practising audition situations (1)
Summary of Day 1
Audition preparation
At the audition
= Break =
More state management
Practising audition situations (2a)
= Break =
Practising audition situations (2b)
Summary of Day 2
1-on-1
Relaxation and visualisation
= Break =
Practising audition situaions (3)
Summary of the workshop
Time (approx.)
30 mins
30 mins
30 mins
30 mins
30 mins
60 mins
90 mins
30 mins
60 mins
60 mins
60 mins
30 mins
60 mins
30 mins
up to 90 mins
60 mins
90 mins
30 mins
Reviews
"You don't know how much these techniques helped me"
-- Ionel Cristea, clarinet soloist
"I teach piano after school in the afternoons and always have an annual recital. I have dealt with several students who have performance anxiety and was never quite sure how to coach them through their anxiety. When I performed in my younger days, I got in “the zone” but never realized how I did it until I read your book. I discovered a system that worked for me, but didn’t know how I did it. You spelled it out in your book so clearly that I shared your techniques with my students for the first time this year. I was so happy to be able to verbalize this emotional and physical sensation with my students and instruct them how to deal with it. Thank you so much. I also passed on your book to a dear friend of mine who is now publicly speaking on radio and in front of an audience about her first published book. She found this information invaluable since she used to suffer from anxiety issues. Please keep me posted on your future endeavors and best of luck in pursuing them!"
-- Susan Coleman, piano teacher
