Portfolio Example - Section 2

I was surprised at the nerves I felt before performing for the class. But I used my breath (mindfulness and deep breathing) to settle the nerves. Then when I started to sing, I noticed that much of my usual 'body cover' was missing from the tone of my low notes, giving me the initial feeling that Daniel had started in the wrong key. This feeling lasted only a second, because I was able to rationalise that I had just given him the correct chart.

I also realised very quickly that my vocal fold closure for this performance had been effected by the 3-4 hours of speaking that I had done in the lead up to singing. I had drunk no water in this time and I had not warmed up properly and I hadn't considered my speech technique. Things to learn for next time.

So I concentrated on control. I closed my eyes and bunkered down through the first part of the song until I felt comfortable again. Eventually a voice in my head said, "OK open your eyes, you're supposed to be performing here". When I did that, looking at the audience gave me confidence that I was addressing a familiar group that I was getting to know even better as I opened myself up to them.

I wanted to demonstrate a simple improvised section to give them an idea of how they might approach such a section in their own recital. When I entered the B section for the second time I looked at Daniel accompanying me and felt happy that he was supporting the performance so well. We all love Daniel so when I played up to him, I knew that everyone would get it. It gave the performance another level and perspective and showed another side of me as a performer and a person.

Not my greatest performance, but one that I really enjoyed and learnt a lot from.