Do it for Them, Not You: How to Undergo a Performance Makeover w/ Pastor Tim Conkling
"If you help enough people get what they want, you'll get what you want." --Zig ZiglarThat quote came to my mind as I was listening to my friend, pastor and mentor Tim Conkling share his experience w/ performance anxiety and how he overcame some of his own struggles with it in his younger years. Tim is an ordained Presbyterian pastor. But he has an extensive history and interest in the trumpet community. He is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music, receiving his performer's certificate before entering full-time ministry. He also gave Yours Truly some valuable encouragement and coaching when I decided to make music my full-time craft in 2007. Well, he reached out to me a couple of weeks ago and said he wanted to do a podcast on performance anxiety, and I readily agreed. Here's what he shared:Tim's Performance Makeover...11:13Never practice, always perform Ungracious performers Practice vs. performance mentality Kill the ego when you perform Perform any chance you get Break the physiological and psychological cycle...19:40Dry mouth, sweaty palms Inderol inhibits the sympathetic nervous system Gradually wean off the beta blockers Identity is tied up with your performance "Identity is not tied to my playing" Enjoy the moment, even your mistakes What's at the root of performance anxiety?...27:05We don't understand the ego Our identity gets tied into our playing A big ego can give you lots of courage or lots of fear Quit being selfish; become selfless and self-forgetful https://amzn.to/3bykV6x (The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle) How to stay in the parasympathetic state (if beta blockers aint yo thang)...31:55Deep breathing Neck and shoulder massage What teachers are really looking for in auditions (it's not how well you play)...37:12Tim's take on universities and conservatories in dealing w/ performance anxiety...42:37Resources mentioned:https://amzn.to/3bykV6x (The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle) http://timothyconkling.com (timothyconkling.com) Want to pick Tim's brain on performance anxiety? Send him an email! tim@timothyconkling.com