Playing in Tough Environments
During the summer season many of us do a good bit of playing in the out-of-doors. Needless to say this can create some interesting challenges.
A few seasons back I was performing with the New Hollywood String Quartet at the Vermont Mozart Festival. The venue for one of the concerts was a winery on the shores of Lake Champlain. Yes, we were outside.
It was the hottest, buggiest, most humid night of the summer – matter of fact, there were so many mosquitoes I had a couple fly right into my mouth during the show, and that was with repellent smeared on thick and heavy.
My fingerboard was so wet I was hydroplaning between positions
Yet the show did go on. And surprisingly well, I must say.
My success in such conditions comes one from thing; staying focused on what I want, 100% of the time. If the next note I’m to play is D, fifth position second finger on the ‘and’ of two, that is what I’ve got in my head.
Good timing is even more essential then ever, so I’m aggressively labeling the beats in my head as they pass; discomfort can so easily lead to ‘jumping the gun’ on shifts and multiple string crossings.
In my mind, a second finger D in 5th position on the E string, on the ‘and’ of 2, on a down-bow, mezzo-forte, is what it is, no matter what I feel like or what is happening around me.
I make no concessions in my technique. The violin is rested on my collarbone and supported in left my hand. I breathe relaxation through my arms.
Bear in mind, one cultivates an efficient, relaxed technique so that the ability to play the music is there no matter what the conditions.
In case you hadn’t noticed by this point, uncertainty – in this case triggered by adverse conditions – is not to be given the light of day.
No matter what.
If you miss a note, if you hand flies off the fingerboard, in fact, no matter. Your focus and responsibility is to the NEXT note. Chances are the audience either didn’t notice, or, if they did, will quickly forget with the next note rings out beautifully and confidently.
In short, I ignore whatever discomfort is present; I’m all about where I need to be, and when.
Ok, all of this being said, I certainly advise getting to the venue early and allowing one’s instrument to acclimate thoroughly to the environment. Naturally, I good warm-up is helpful, though in that warm-up I’d play as slowly as is needed to be effective at what I’m telling you.
Don’t panic, trust that the wherewithal to get it done will be there; your job is to remain focused on what you want, when you want it.
All the best, Clayton Haslop
P.S. Solid fundamentals and highly effective practice techniques are the foundation you want in place heading in to tough weather. The professional violinist with a little more to learn will find them in spades within the 4 volumes of Kreutzer for Violin Mastery.
