Have you ever watched a performance where everything is ‘right’, but still it somehow leaves you cold? Sometimes, we can focus so much of playing a piece of music in a way where everything is “correct” in terms of the notes, rhythms, dynamics etc, that we forget about the emotion that the piece is meant to convey. We focus more on getting things ‘right’ than on the spirit of the music.

For me, the reason I love playing music is because it’s a way to communicate. In a performance I’m trying to communicating meaning to the listener about the emotions, character, imagery, narrative etc of the piece I’m playing. In order to do that effectively, I need to go beyond just what’s written on the page, and really focus on what I want to say with the piece as I’m playing it. When I’m performing I don’t want to be thinking about my fingering or an upcoming lever change; rather I want to put my attention onto the emotion of the piece.

Now, music is of course subjective, so the changes are that the listener won’t have exactly the same narrative in their head as I do playing it, but the hope is that they experience something that transcends the mere notes that I’m playing. 

For example, when I’m playing ‘Sands of Hosta’ I’m imagining the waves gently lapping the shore and the pure white sand, and the smell of the ocean breeze.

When I play The Parting Glass, I’m imagining the lyrics and their meaning in my head, even though I’m not actually singing.

If I’m playing a set of dance tunes, I’m imagining a roomful of dancers, and trying to give them the swing and lift they need to dance!

These all really help me to get into the feel of the piece, and ultimately to play it better and to connect more with my listeners.

No matter what you’re playing, remember that the notes are a mere starting point for deeper communication. Think about how you want your audience to feel. What do you want them to imagine? What emotions do you hope they’ll have when they listen? By engaging your imagination when you play, you can help add life to your performances, letting your music expand beyond being merely a literal rendition of the notes and into something that is magical for your listeners.