Use "Performance Cues" to Create Mindful Musicianship

Performing on stage can be both a thrilling and intimidating place. As musicians, we often walk a tightrope between the exhilaration of performance and the overwhelming thoughts, feelings, and sensations we experience.

In order to navigate this tightrope effectively, we have a powerful technique at our disposal! "Performance Cues" (also known as Process Cues or Focus Cues) can simplify our thinking, enhance skill execution, and elevate our overall musicality.

🎯 Understanding Performance Cues: The Roadmap to Mindful Musicianship

"Performance cues (PCs) are the mental landmarks that a musician monitors to track the progress of a piece as it unfolds during performance." (Chaffin, Demos, & Crawford 2009).

PCs are simple, short, descriptive phrases, which contain process-oriented, positive words, or metaphorical images. PCs are like guideposts that steer our attention during a performance and help us concentrate on specific aspects of our music-making process, rather than getting lost in the maze of self-doubt and overanalysis. When we become entangled in our thoughts during a performance, we risk losing our connection to the music, leading to anxiety and a lacklustre execution. PCs provide the antidote by redirecting our mental energies towards the actions that matter most. This helps us keep our mind attuned to the moment, thus preventing unhelpful overthinking.

💡 How To Simplify Your Thinking: Embrace the Process

1. Focus on Technique: PCs can steer your attention toward the execution of specific techniques. For instance, focus on your fingerings, bowing, or breath control during a challenging passage. This redirects your mind from the fear of making a mistake to the simplified processes that create great results.

Some widely used PCs for string players are phrases such as “smooth bowing/motion”, for wind players “flowing air”, and for singers “support the sound”.

2. Emotional Expression: PCs can also guide your focus towards conveying emotions in the music. Instead of being preoccupied with the audience's perception, redirect your attention to evoke specific moods or emotions in your performance. You can choose between using descriptive words or vivid mental images to craft the desired effect, enhancing the authenticity of your performance.

For those who prefer metaphors and mental imagery, let your imagination run wild to conjure up vivid examples that translate into the sounds you wish to produce. For instance, when tackling a staccato passage, envision raindrops playfully dancing on a puddle. Alternatively, when playing broad and expansive phrases, you could visualise a majestic, meandering river.

Below is a compelling illustration of how a visual performance cue was employed by one of my clients during their tuba audition. They were preparing the challenging excerpt "The Shrove-Tide Fair: Peasant with Bear" from Stravinsky's Petrushka. A quick online search led them to this captivating image, vividly representing the bear character they envisioned and the emotional depth of the music.

While words often serve as the most accessible and straightforward means of employing PCs, it's important to recognise the impact that visual aids can play in your PC toolbox.

As the age-old saying aptly suggests, "A picture is worth a thousand words."

3. Physical Sensations: Tune into the physical sensations of playing your instrument. Feel the vibrations, the touch, the weight, and the movement of your instrument. What does it feel like to play easily and effortlessly? Words such as 'smooth' or 'flowing' can be really useful words to use, as they can help you achieve the desired result. This sensory focus can also keep you grounded and in the present moment.

4. Breath Control: Deep, rhythmic breathing is a potent PC. It can help you stay in the present, enhance oxygen flow for clear thinking, and be a source of rhythmic stability during a performance. When playing, simply noticing your breath and breathing with the musical phrase can be especially helpful, particularly for string players. A useful PC reminder for wind players and singers can be: “Breathe in time to play in time.”

A compelling example of the power of Performance Cues in sport comes from former Australian cricket captain, Ricky Ponting. In an effort to maintain clarity and simplicity in his thinking, Ponting adopted a specific PC, which he repeated to himself three times as the bowler approached for each delivery.

His Performance Cue? "Watch the ball."

Ponting elaborates on this approach:

''The only way I could keep a clear mind was to give myself one thought for every ball which was to just ‘watch the ball.’ I used to say it three times over in my head as the bowler was running in. Every ball, three times. Once when he started his run, once when he was halfway through and once when he was into his delivery stride. I'd say that to keep every other thought out of my mind because if you start premeditating as a batsman, especially in Test cricket, you're in real trouble.''

Consider the multitude of elements that could have crowded his mind – contemplating adjustments in technique, analysing the bowler's tactics, evaluating pitch conditions, or keeping track of the score. However, by focusing on the fundamental essence of his task and entrusting the rest to his meticulous pre-match preparation, Ponting not only performed at an elite level but also etched his name among the legends of the game.

To hear Ponting discuss his use of Performance Cues, watch the clip here.
 

🚀 The Path to Mindful Musicianship: Putting Performance Cues into Action

So how can you use PCs in a musical situation?

Working out your own cues is something that will take a little time and pre-concert planning – this isn’t something you can just make up when you’re on stage!

So here are 4 ways you can develop your own PCs for your upcoming performances:

1. Practice with Purpose: Consciously incorporate PCs into your practice routine. Identify the specific aspects you want to focus on during a piece, such as the musical character, emotions, or physical sensations you want to feel when playing. Use your imagination and think of some adjectives to describe these characteristics. Experiment with different words and images to find the ones that resonate the most with your interpretation of the music. This will help develop the habit of mindful awareness when practising.

Once you have come up with some descriptors, write them clearly on your music. Try to use as few words as possible (generally 2 - 4 words work best), to keep things nice and simple. Remember, these are only CUE words that guide your focus throughout a performance. You won't have time to read long, detailed sentences whilst playing your part, so keep it short!

2. Rehearse Visualisation: Visualise yourself performing with the aid of your PCs. This mental rehearsal helps you internalise the cues and build mental resilience.

3. Stage Performance: During an actual performance, rely on your PCs to guide your focus. When you feel anxiety or overthinking creeping in, gently redirect your attention to your cues.

4. Post-Performance Reflection: After each performance, reflect on the effectiveness of your PCs. What worked? What needs adjustment? This self-assessment helps refine your cues over time.

By embracing Performance Cues you can simplify your thinking, elevate skill execution, and enhance your overall musicality. These cues guide your focus, empowering you to become a more mindful musician, fully immersed in the art of creation.

For a great example of Performance Cues in action, check out this video of Ray Chen performing the 3rd movement of Korngold's Violin Concerto. Nothing like a concerto with space cowboys! 😂

Suggested additional reading
Chaffin, R., Demos, A., & Crawford, M. (2009). The PC-survey: How does use of performance cues vary across musicians, instruments, musical styles, and performances?. In Proceedings of the international symposium on performance science. Utrecht, The Netherlands: European Association of Conservatoires (AEC).