FREEDOM FROM FEAR
Awareness
As Madeline Bruser states inTe Art of Practicing, “[Struggle] does not produce beautiful music.”5
Trying
too hard can cause muscles to tighten and interfere with music-making. Anxiety tightens the larynx and raises the diaphragm, preventing a deep breath. Bruser teaches her students to start really listening, immersing themselves in the joy of the sounds that they and their instrument are producing, rather than concentrating solely on mechanics. Barry Green quotes psychologist Fritz Perls in saying that “trying fails; awareness cures.”6
Tere is joy in the beauty
and pathos of even mournful melodies, and joy in the excitement of sharing the emotions inherent in the music. Becoming attuned to how music-making feels and sounds will generally yield more satisfactory results than trying very hard to force a certain bodily action.
Trust
Finally, developing trust in yourself reduces the obstacles of worry about self-image, feelings that things are beyond your control, and doubts and fears about your abilities.7
30 Techniques need to be practiced,
and pieces of music need to be prepared, but once you have the skill and know the music, it is time to trust, let go, andpray the music. Surrender to the beauty and power inherent in the music and trust in it. Says Green, “You are a musician, a creative artist and your peak performance will draw on everything you have learned, everything you know deep in your bones.”8
As pastoral
musicians, we have the added benefit of trust in the Holy Spirit to support our efforts, but don’t depend on the Holy Spirit to sing or play the right notes when you did not prepare at all for the liturgy at hand!
Te resources listed below offer ideas to improve goal-setting and goal-reaching, time management, building resilience after making a mistake, and many other aspects of being successful—not just as a minister of musical prayer but in other areas of your life as well. Remember that you are never alone in your ministry, but rather, are part of a team, led by God and encompassing all other liturgical ministers. If nervousness often derails your efforts, make the time to practice your “inner game” as well as rehearsing the notes. May you always minister to the Church as the best that God means for you to be!
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