Comments on: Olympic Perfomers: What We Learn From Shaun White

By: Maureen

Maureen — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:50:39 +0000

Every performance is in a sense, like a test: to see if you can actually do some task to your minimum, if not full expectation of your own ability. So it's competing against oneself. But when I'm performing, it's an exchange between myself and audience, of giving my song away, so I want it to be positive for both of us. I know I might not be at my best every time. I often feel nervous about that. Sometimes the "nerves" are "just right", and spur me on to do my best Other times, the nervousness turns into sheer panic, paralysis. At those times, I have to consciously acknowledge my feeling, rather than fight it. What I resist persists! So I remind myself it's only ENERGY-that I can use to win the race. I try to "fall in" trusting I can catch that energy. So to some extent I can control it, rather than letting it control me. It's what I believe about that nervous feeling that either spurs me on, or paralyzes me. When I acknowledge my nervousness, and use it with the faith that it's a gift, not a demon, I sort of fall into it's arms and trust it, and surrender to the muse rather than letting IT overpower me. I'm not as powerless as I believe. When I don't feel grounded for whatever reason, I'm learning now to not fight/control that. All that's needed is to be humble and surrender my self and trust the energy.
Thank you Per for the great question. Beautiful. Maureen

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[...] Olympic Perfomers: What We Learn From Shaun White | The Bristow How Shaun White and other peak performers teach us the most important lessons. the third word in the second to the last line of that last comment… I took some group singing lessons which I had to perform in front of the class… hear me when I spoke so I had to take voice projection lessons in grade 1. Olympic Perfomers: What We Learn From Shaun White | The Bristow [...]

By: Stefan

Stefan — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 06:47:20 +0000

Well, feeling nervous when you are in front of many people is sometimes due to lack of confidence and being too conscious about how people reaction to your performance.

By: kathy

kathy — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 19:57:56 +0000

My sons and I had this conversation just last week talking about Shaun White and his Olympic performance. What Shaun has, as many other medalists have is the 'EDGE". That's what enables them; the "no-fear" complex. I've often felt that fearlessness is the key to those kinds of unforgettable winning performances. But how does one achieve fearlessness? Fear criples, faith enables. Belief and defiance are two noble qualities that are paramount to success as a performer. Belief in your own abilities (once you know what that is…and where your artistic limitations lie) and defiance against negative self-attitudes, inwardly, outwardly, environmentally…such that no matter what the circumstance, you can overcome the pressure and accomplish a winning performance.
Thanks for this post Per, I read your message to my boys and they marvelled!

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By: Bootsthatear

Bootsthatear — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 06:02:33 +0000

I never felt nervous when I was doing gymnastics. Once I fell in practice and was laughing!! Not afraid of the fall anymore was why I was laughing. Knew I could fall but wan't afraid cause I knew I'd be ok. the mats were there. Uneven bars. I was too tall for the olympics my teacher told me so…….However I always went last in shows because my teacher said I was the best. I was excited because I knew I was well prepared and enjoyed it so much. Was even lauging during my routine when my pinwheel spun me 7 times. Yes I was counting. I t was a record for me!!!
Singing is another story. I don't try to sing good when I sing. I relay a message through the song like I'm talking only using singing techniques I learned in vocal training. However I have been singing in a lower key lately because singing high comes naturally to me. I like to be the best IN MY EYES. No one can pressure
me more than I pressure myself and I compete against my self. It's all about the song for me now. Not how I sing. My advice to singers is TRY TO CARE LESS!

By: Bootsthatear

Bootsthatear — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 05:44:59 +0000

This touches home for me. I was on a gymnastics team growing up and I was determined to be the best. I even fell from the high bar during dismount and got right back on. I was very well prepared and had tricks only I could do. I am half russian and half belgian. Strong muscle body. Helps being born with it.
I was always excited at shows and was forced to go last all the time. Teacher said I was like the fireworks of the show. Never nervous but I knew I was well prepared and was even laughing on my pinwheel cause I spun around like 7 times!! Purposely done but over the top I thought. I didn't make it into the olympics because 5 ft 7 inches is too tall, they were afraid my head would hit the highbar. NEVER, I'm too precise.
Singing was another story totally. I was terrified and it showed at karaoke my first time. I knew deep down I wasn't the best I COULD BE and that showed in my singing. After a few drinks I belted out Pat Benatar with ease. Since then I have
had vocal training. Now I don't care about am I singing good WHILE I'M SINGING, instead I focus on delivering the message in the song like I'm talking using my singing techniques of course. Worrying what other people think is the devils lair. Pretend the audience is your friends and you have a message you'd
like to share with them. I heard something about tongues? I never thought about it before but now that you mention it, I DROOL A LOT! When I was little no one could hear me when I spoke so I had to take voice projection lessons in grade 1.
High notes come very easily to me and that's why all my songs so far are low key songs. Wanted to master singing low. I was told by my singing teacher I'm a natural soprano. He even said…HEY COOL IT THIS ISN'T THE OPERA!!!
I always focus on what's difficult for me. I push myself so no one can pressure me like I can. Thanks for your blog, I guess it's time I start really singing and order your products. Soon as I can!!

Singing my o

By: Hannah

Hannah — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 19:42:36 +0000

My favorite quote about success is one I saw in a little local paper by a writer I can't find any other information about. His name is Jose Bergman and it goes "To be ready to fail is to be prepared for success". I think this is why your teaching works so fantastically well, Per. You prepare us for failure by telling us, don't listen to the sound, it doesn't matter. Of course, you then guide us expertly on how to succeed, though But without being aware of what's at stake, that we might fail, and be prepared for that, we can never attempt things, or if we do, we will shut down as soon as we experience it. That's what happened to the people who are so upset about losing Idol. That's the difference between a professional and an amateur really, I think. After Ashleigh Simpson was booed at a performance, her dad told her she has to act like a professional and "suck it up". Now, I think that having a father like that is no prize, don't get me wrong. I think that parents are there to really prepare us for failure on a completely different level. That our weaknesses are unconditionally understood. To succeed you have to accept the danger. Not indulge it, not invite it, but be aware of it and accept it.

By: John

John — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 13:42:15 +0000

I'm a public school choir director. Before teaching I traveled and sang professionally. I've been performing for over 30 years. I still get nervous EVERY TIME I stand in front of an audience, whether it's singin, playing, or conducting. There is this thing that you learn to do with your nervousness - you harness it. Before a performance I feel scattered, and jittery. As the performance nears I breathe deeply and quiet my heart, thinking about my purpose in the performance. The nerves and jitters don't really go away, they just become very focused. All that nervous energy gets focused into the thing that you are going to do. Then great stuff happens! If you've really prepared, you find yourself outperforming your preparation! What a moment that is -when you find yourself doing something that you've prepared for so long- you do it better than ever!. Then, of course, there are times when you bomb! But it doesn't matter, you just refocus and keep going. Learning to breathe deeply and focus all that nervous energy is what has been helpful to me. By the way, Per, I purchased your wonderful "Singing With Freedom" DVD series and I use your techniques with my 5 choirs. You know your stuff! And it works!!! Thanks. Best regards, John

By: lucky v

lucky v — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 10:12:08 +0000

dear Per,
As I have written you before to help each other and make understandable. Fear is part of nature impulse .You cannot eliminate but you can control the fear…

Have you ever felt the difference when you control fear and when you're not ///but no doping please…why? …try to think! /no more control,/ no more awareness,so / no more art./.. that's why..element control goes with another element awareness> so simple and work when you sing or play/// best

lucky v