Why Do We Make Misstakes? Part #4

Distractions

As I stated earlier, distraction and the lack of concentration are usually related.

The distractions I am going to cover here are the ones that creep into your playing even when you are concentrating to your fullest during a performance.

#1. Where did my music go?

You have practiced your part and are able to play it perfectly 10 times in a row with no errors. You are concentrating as you have never concentrated before. You are physically on top of your game and suddenly the music blows off the stand with a sudden gust of wind. This is a distraction which could have been avoided with the placement of one cloths pin.

#2. Where’s my mute?

The first movement of your perfectly prepared and executed Concerto has just finished and as you reach for your mute to begin the second movement, you realize that your mute is still in your case in the band room. If you think that this could never happen to you, I had the same thought until it actually did happen to me during my graduate recital in DeKalb, Illinois many decades ago.

#3. Babies will be babies.

Even the best concentration cannot silence a baby crying in your audience. Each time the mother has temporarily solved the problem with a bottle, play toy or a motherly rock (not the mineral type), those little smoke alarms always go off one measure before a difficult passage. A solution to this problem is not easy. The chance that the mother and baby are not one of your relatives is slim so before your important performance my recommendation would be to set the ground rules with your relation in this order. 1. Suggest that they sit in the back row just in case the kid doesn’t like trumpet playing. 2. At the first whimper, get the mother and child ready to vacate the premises. 3. When the child takes its first inhalation for a “big one”, be out the door and have it closed before the next cry can be heard.

#4. Thank you for your applause but could you please wait until the end of the concerto instead of clapping after every movement?

This is a very common error for audiences who don’t get out much. If this happens to you, don’t let the thought of it continue for you now know that it will continue to happen throughout your whole program. When it does happen, make the most out of it. When they start clapping, this will give you a little more time to empty your water key and get a little more lip rest.

#5. Will you please take your hands off me?

This actually happen in Dallas one summer while performing with the State Fair Band of Texas. I was taking my position in the back of the open air concert area, preparing to play my off stage solo, when I was approached by a security guard. I had heard stories about this situation before but never thought it would happen to me, but it did. As I tested my valve for the last time and began to take in a large breath the voice thundered out, “What are you doing here? You can’t play your trumpet now the concert is going on”. As my entrance came closer I told the guard that I was part of the concert and as I began my solo, his hands were on me and I couldn’t decide if his forceful grip or my need to laugh were the strongest. This was not a problem of concentration; this was more of a martial arts contest. I got it done and after I had finished my solo he apologized. To make sure you are able to perform under these conditions, prepare yourself with at least a brown belt in Karate.

Wait a minute, I need to get this call.

Ask your audience before you start your performance to silence their phones or they will be shot.

A distraction may be defined this way-

1. (often passive) to draw the attention of (a person) away from something
2. to divide or confuse the attention of (a person)
3. to amuse or entertain
4. (Psychology) to trouble greatly
5. (Psychology) to make mad

Pay close attention to the last definition for sometimes this may be the outcome of your performance.