Why perform for others?

ShiroKuro Lovely post. I have been in similar situations this year, playing for our piano group and playing in a fund raising concert to an audience who have paid to attend. Indeed on Saturday 7th Dec I am doing another fund raising concert in which I am covering( at the last minute) for another player's absence.

At the first fund raiser in June I was surprised that I didn't feel much different to times I play for the piano group. Nervousness was still there but I remember concentrating very much on the sheet music which I had selected because it was relatively easy to read and play.

I guess there are two things I try to achieve; firstly to entertain and secondly to share my interpretation of the music with whoever wants to listen. In this concert on the coming Saturday I also want the music to say Merry Christmas.

ShiroKuro Good luck on Saturday, let us know how it goes!

Some of my piano group colleagues and I took part in a Salvation Army Christmas concert this afternoon and made a lovely musical contribution. Our programme was a little shorter than intended because one pianist was unavailable due too illness and another decided not to travel because of a storm affecting our part of the UK. The notable pieces played exceptionally well were a Bach Chorale, a piece by Rameau, Leroy Anderson's Belle of the Ball and Sleigh Ride in a duet arrangement. Also Silent Night in a light jazz style.

I played the medley submitted to the Holiday recital thread but I decided to change the arrangement of _We wish you a Merry _Christmas_to a version written by the piano group member who couldn't attend because of the storm. I had just one week to learn the new arrangement so I think I stumbled a few times but managed to keep it going and then settled myself down for the second and third tunes. It all went by in a blur but hopefully I got away with it. To make up for the time not used by absent piano group colleagues I read my favourite two pages from Dickens Christmas Carol to round off the Piano group's contribution.

It’s also helpful, and important, to consider why an audience member comes to a performance. It may be a famous player or program, or a notable event or holiday, or just the desire to enjoy the audience experience.

If they explicitly came for your particular performance, you have a motivated audience and your internal purposes are more in play. If they came for an event which coincidentally has a piano element, then I think the discussion must expand to their reasons for participation. I’ll enjoy considering that aspect.

I really like your comparison with cooking for others. It also includes why someone may not wish to perform for others at all, becoming a better to cook to enhance their own meals and experience. A dinner party is such a different thing. Thanks for the topic.

ShiroKuro It's interesting to me that "sharing my interpretation" didn't come up in my own descriptions...

Maybe think of it that way might actually help me relax a bit more and focus on the music rather than being distracted by all the pressures of performing.

I've seen the advice to think of sharing music vs. hoping not to mess up as being helpful in calming performance nerves.
I haven't quite got the knack of it yet. I end up with a hybrid "I hope I don't mess up while I'm sharing this piece that I love".

It might be better in another thread, but another concept might be "why perform WITH others". Have you ever performed with a group? As a for instance, have you played with an ensemble of other instruments?

In my case, I play with a trio, piano-bass-drums. The drums keep me honest about timing. The bass makes me pay attention to chord structures that may or may not be what I intend and adjusting on the fly is sometimes a requirement. And if I miss a note or notes, I HAVE to keep going, it's not optional. Also, it makes one concentrate in ways they wouldn't otherwise as it can lock you in to a timing you may not be comfortable with (too fast or even too slow), and also introduces a lot of background noise that can be distracting.

Might be a different subject, but it's what came to mind when I was reading the posts. It could be an ensemble. It could be a band. It could be another player either on the same set of piano keys or another player at another piano at the same time. It could be a vocalist singing with you. Lots of possible dynamics.

ShiroKuro So that's where the question is. Why perform?

The best reason I can come up with is if you can answer yes to the question of will your performance provide pleasure to the person hearing it (and if you have any interest in pleasing other people, which not everyone does). Thus it's the performer's own self assessment of their playing, and of the listener's expectations, that determines whether to perform or not.

Some people express belief in a "need" or "duty" to perform, but I'm not one of them. I play for myself. I can read a book or watch a movie for my own personal pleasure. Same with piano. At the same time, if someone want to perform, go for it! It's a big tent. There's room for both approaches.

Pallas My teacher says we make art to connect with other people

ShiroKuro Ooh, I like that!

So do I!

Music for me is the most wonderful form of non-verbal communication. I want to tell a story, one that cannot be told in words. I want people to be moved, fascinated, sometimes comforted and sometimes unsettled. If after a concert somebody compliments me on my technique, I know I have failed. But if somebody says that the music made them dream, or it made them cry, or it filled them with joy, then I'm happy.

ShiroKuro Maybe it's like why we do anything for other people, we hope it makes them happy, and we feel good doing something for others?

Yes, and the second part rings true--gift giving often does as much, or more, for the gift-giver than for the giftee. It makes us feel good giving of our own free will.

Thinking about this some more since I posted yesterday, it occurs to me that performing in front of others also satisfies the showman in us (I'm thinking in very general terms and not about anybody here!!). We like our moment in the spotlight and a little bit of praise. This is definitely not to say it's showing off, but rather that most people do appreciate having their egos stroked now and then. For those who don't perform, they get it in other ways.

ShiroKuro, how strong is your need to perform? My teacher performs a lot, in some small things and in some major undertakings. I suspect there is a level of compulsion present in her need to perform. Injury has forced her to cut back some and it is very hard on her.