Why perform for others?

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.

Pallas “His hands were like butterflies.” Many thanks for that. You have made my week.

I've been thinking about this a lot since the thread started. I've had some long-winded responses in mind, but I think I can distill it down to the following.

1) For whatever nature and/or nurture reasons, my brain is wired to respond to music in an intensely positive way.
2) Listening to music also evokes a strong desire not only to listen to it but also to create it myself.
3) HOWEVER, I do not enjoy the music itself as much when I am playing alone than when I am listening to it. I shift from audience mode to performer mode, which is mentally very different for me, and not as positive.
4) HOWEVER, when I perform for others, those two seem to collapse together in a good way, and I enjoy the music even more than simply listening to it. For whatever personal psychological reasons, the presence of an audience allows me to inhabit the audience mode even while in performer mode, and then some.

That's about it.

Hi ShiroKuro

For me performing for others is secondary to performing with others. The first is a lovely benefit of the second.

Apart from classical lessons and practice, I play in a pop/rock band, a big band and attend a sort of jam night. At the moment the big band is not gigging, it's purely a rehearsal band (though that might change next year). The jam night does one gig a quarter, and although we rehearse weekly the pop/rock band only does 5 -10 gigs a year. Most recently last Thursday, which was a lot of fun. So for all that playing (about 90 rehearsals a year) I get to do about 12 gigs a year.

I was someone who was completely frustrated as a youngster. I could only play what was written in the sheet music, and I wasn't great at reading that in those days. The thrill of playing in a band is something that at one point in my life I never dreamed I'd achieve. It was only when I was about 19 that I found out how to break my reliance on sheet music.

I could quite happily, continue doing what I'm doing without the gigs. It's the interaction with other musicians that is more special to me. I've made life long friends from music, and they are people I've played with, not played for.

Cheers

Hi ShiroKuro

I've only ever played with another Piano/keyboard player once. A chap I used to work with (over 40 years ago) played Piano and we had a few jams together. At the jam night I attend we sometimes have 2 keyboards, but that's so that we can realise an arrangement, so one keyboard might be doing a horn part, and the other Piano.

I've never played classical music with anyone else, and I don't think I want to. For one thing the standard of playing required to play in a classical situation (of whatever type) seems to be so much higher, and secondly I consider it a solo discipline. I think the simple truth is I'm a better non-classical player.

Cheers