Music Educators' Energiser

What art form demands such perfectionism as music performance? Unsurprisingly, insecurity and self-sabotage are rife amongst musicians. Don't we all suffer those little voices which beat up before the big day: "ya gunna..." "ya orta"? During and after performing it's worse: "ya shoulda" and "ya idiot" (or worse.) No, I don't mean schizophrenia, we all suffer from self-talk! Much as my books and workshops caution against self-sabotage, I'm the first to admit that I sometimes fall prey to beat-up. Hey, I'm good at it!

"Positive affirmations" may seem like hype and pretence, even lying to ourselves. Yet three simple words transform such words into honesty, self-revelation and scope to change:

"Even though I ..." After which we acknowledge our fears, voice them, telling it like it is. "Even though I make mistakes, stuff up, shake..." Then we can sweep those worries away by adding: "I love and appreciate myself."

That's a tough call, hmm, ? We're taught to be self-critical rather than kind to ourselves! "Love your neighbour as you love yourself" Christ told us. He didn't say instead of loving ourself! To be healthy and productive people - and performers - some positive self-esteem is essential.

Emotional Freedom Technique reinforces voiced affirmations by tapping on meridian points. See http://www.RuthBonetti.com/EFT.mov for an animation created by my son André - be patient, the 5mb file takes ages to load (that's André on the cover of Practice is a Dirty Word). This simple, accessible and powerful tool facilitates changes in often deep-rooted attitudes that free us to perform to our ability.

Info: http://www.emofree.com

Read how EFT has helped musicians: http://www.emofree.com/Performance/music-performance-jitters.htm

Readers' Results: "EFT has helped my performing enormously since I was beginning to become so extremely nervous when performing that I had thought to give up." (Organist John Leggett, Norway)

Rosemary Warhurst, United Emirates, writes: "I've successfully used EFT to prevent performance nerves as well as tapping on 'Even though I rush at the start I am still a great performer' or whatever. I also use it on a daily basis with upset students, kids who have bizarre connections to previous exams that they didn't do well in for whatever reason. Thanks for opening my eyes to EFT, as using this helpful technique I've cleared many of my own issues including nodules on my vocal folds."

PS. More forum comments on last month's scales debate will follow soon.