Stage Fright
Fall down as you come onstage. Thats an odd trick. Not recommended. But it saved the pianist Vladimir Feltsman when he was a teenager back in Moscow. The veteran cellist Mstislav
Rostropovich tripped him purposely to cure him of pre-performance panic,Mr. Feltsman said, All
my fright was gone. I already fell. What else could happen?
Today, music schools are addressing the problem of anxiety in classes that deal with
performance techniques and career preparation. There are a variety of strategies that musicians can learn to fight stage fright and its symptoms:icy fingers, shaky limbs ,racing heart,blank mind.
Teachers and psychologists offer wide-ranging advice, from basics like learning pieces inside out, to mental discipline, such as visualizing a performance and taking steps to relax. Dont deny that youre jittery ,they urge; some excitement is natural, even necessary for dynamic playing. And play in public often, simply for the experience.
Psychotherapist Diane Nichols suggests some strategies for the moments before performance, Take two deep abdominal breaths, open up your shoulders, then smile, she says. And not one of these please dont kill me smiles. Then choose three friendly faces in the audience, people you would communicate with and make music to, and make eye contact with them. She doesnt want performers to think of the audience as a judge.
Extreme demands by mentors or parents are often at the root of stage fright, says Dorothy
Delay, a well-known violin teacher. She tells other teachers to demand only what their students are able to achieve. .
When Lynn Harrell was 20, he became the principal cellist of the Cleverland Orchestra, and he suffered extreme stage fright. There were times when I got so nervous I was sure the audience could see my chest responding to the throbbing. It was just total panic. I came to a point where I thought, If I have to go through this to play music, I think I m going to look for another job. Recovery, he said, involved developing humility-recognizing that whatever his talent, he was fallible, and that an imperfect concert was not a disaster. 6
It is not only young artists who suffer, of course. The legendary pianist Vladimir Horowitzs
nerves were famous. The great tenor Franco Corelli is another example. They had to push him on stage, Soprano Renata Scotto recalled.
Actually, success can make things worse. In the beginning of your career,when youre scared to death, nobody knows who you are, and they dont have any expectations, Soprano June Anderson said. Theres less to lose. Later on, when youre known, p.eople are coming to see you, and they have certain expectations. You have a lot to lose.
Anderson added, I never stop being nervous until Ive sung my last note.
注释:
1.Stage Fright:怯场
2.The veteran cellist Mstislav Rostropovich tripped him purposely to cure him of preperformance panic.资深大提琴家Mstislav Rostropovich故意把Vladimir Feltsman绊倒,
因而治愈了他的上台前的恐惧症。cure somebody of something:医治好病。
3.its symptoms:icy fingers,shaky limbs,racing heart,blank mind:怯场的症状有:手指冰凉、四肢发抖、心跳加速、大脑一片空白。
4.Teachers and psychologists offer wide? ranging advice,from basics like learning pieces inside out:老师和心理学家提出了方方面面的建议,从基础的做法,比如,将演奏曲目烂熟于
心inside out:in great detail
5.I came to a point where I thought,If I have to go through this to play music,I think lm goingto look for anotherjob.我曾经一度认为,如果演出要经历这种慌乱,我宁可另找一份工作。
6.Recovery,he said,involved developing humilityrecognizing that whatever his talent,he wasfallible,and that an imperfect concert was not a disaster.要克服怯场,就要学会谦虚,即认识到 不论自己有多大的才能,都可能犯错误;一场音乐会即使有不完美的地方,也不是要命的事情。
练习:
1. Falling down onstage was not a good way for Vladimir Feltsman to deal with his stage fright.
A Right
B Wrong
C Not mentioned
2. There are many signs of stage fright.
A Right
B Wrong
C Not mentioned
3. Teachers and psychologists cannot help people with extreme stage fright.
A Right
B Wrong
C Not mentioned
4. To perform well on stage, you need to have some feelings of excitement.
A Right
B Wrong
C Not mentioned
5. If you have stage fright, its helpful to have friendly audience.
A Right
B Wrong
C Not mentioned
6. Often people have stage fright because parents or teachers expect too much of them.
A Right
B Wrong
C Not mentioned
7. Famous musicians never suffer from stage fright.
A Right
B Wrong
C Not mentioned
答案与题解:
1.B本文第一段讲的是钢琴家Vladimir Feltsman被Mstislav Rostropovich绊倒后,他的怯场被治愈了的经历。
2.A第二段的最后一句点出怯场的诸多症状:手指冰凉、四肢发抖、心跳加速、大脑一片空白。
3.B 本文的第三、第四、第五和第六段都在讲老师和心理学家为怯场者提供全方位的建议。
4.A依据第三段的倒数第二句:some excitement is natural,even necessary for dynamic playing.
5.c第四段提到克服怯场的方法之一是:在观众中选择三名比较友善的人,与他们做眼神交流。所以克服怯场要靠自己而不是指望所有的观众都友好。
6.A第五段讲了怯场的根源在于导师或父母对表演者要求太高。Extreme demands就是expect too much of them的意思。
7.B第七段讲的是:不只年轻艺术家会怯场,钢琴家Vladimir Horowitz和男高音Franco Corelli亦不能幸免。Never一词不恰当。
说点脏话也无妨
外国人真不用“so so”来表达“一般般”
国内英语资讯:Standing Committee of 13th National Committee of CPPCC closes ninth meeting
体坛英语资讯:Manolo Marquez named as Las Palmas coach
健身后,这七件事一定不要做
摩拜单车开始卖雨衣了?怎么这么贵
扎克伯格提议:给全民无条件发钱
国内英语资讯:China ready to work with France to support economic globalization, reform global governance
国内英语资讯:China Focus: Charting Chinas roadmap to better governance
国内英语资讯:China calls for more G20 efforts on African development, digital economy
国内英语资讯:Full text of Chinese President Xis speech at G20 Hamburg Summit
国内英语资讯:Chinese president eyes more stable, rapid development of ties with Britain
国内英语资讯:Chinas first lady visits Port of Hamburg
宠物可以治病?专家:结论为时尚早
体坛英语资讯:Calmejane claims first Tour de France stage win despite cramps
国内英语资讯:China claims India is stirring up trouble in Doklam
国内英语资讯:Xi calls on G20 to champion open world economy, foster new growth drivers
健身后,这七件事一定不要做
伦敦建了一条智能街道,逛街从此能发电啦
国际英语资讯:Turkish president mulling shuttle diplomacy in Gulf
没有冰淇淋,古人夏天都吃什么?
国内英语资讯:Xis Russia visit promotes bilateral ties to higher level: Chinese FM
国内英语资讯:China wraps up combustible ice mining trial, setting world records
体坛英语资讯:China wins dual gold in ITTF World Tour finals in Australia
有能力帮助别人,是一种幸福
因为王者荣耀,腾讯突然赔了140亿美元
习近平在G20汉堡峰会讲话全文
国内英语资讯:Xi, Trump meet on ties, hot-spot issues on G20 sidelines
"硅谷版安迪"桑德伯格2017毕业演讲:是什么改变了我的人生
如何更快地自我成长?