On Taking Risks: Practice on the Edge of Disaster
In a world of tradition, black tuxes, and rules of concert etiquette, Chinese classical pianist Yuja Wang brings bold and charismatic artistry to the stage with her dynamic stage presence and fashion choices (she’s even partnered with Armani and Rolex!).
It seems that there are so many unwritten rules of behavior, etiquette, and performance in the classical music world — from how to dress and behave to how to audition and perform. Not to mention all of the expectations and pressures placed on any musician aspiring to make a career in this incredibly competitive industry.
All of this can weigh heavily on a young classical musician, I know it did on me as an undergraduate performance major whose dream was to play in an orchestra.
As great as my undergraduate years were for improving my musicianship with the clarinet as well as giving me a much greater understanding of the theoretical and historical contexts of the music I play, I lost something that I had had even as a middle school musician: passion.
Don’t get me wrong, I was still in love with music and the wonderful school I was attending, but suddenly music wasn’t something I was only doing for fun. It was now to be my career, and that changed how I thought about it.
All of a sudden, I was afraid to just play how I wanted or to take any risks in my playing as I used to when I was younger because I worried that my peers or professors would think I was a bad musician.
So I learned to play it “safe”. I improved my sound, physical technique, and understanding of phrasing and musical nuances, however, my playing itself didn’t feel or sound as exciting as it used to. Though the tone coming out of my clarinet sounded beautiful, the music wasn’t moving.
This is fairly common for a lot of undergraduate musicians likely for the same reason. The challenge after we realize what has happened is then to find that fiery passion again — to be ok with taking risks and learn to play with reckless abandon as we once did.
I’m still at the beginning of re-learning this.
There are many ways to take risks in music, some on the instrument and some off. When it comes to taking risks on the instrument, the keys are to know what it is you want to communicate with the music you’re playing and experiment with as many ways of playing a phrase as possible. Then just go for it! Practice performing without any judgement from yourself. Play for fun, even if there are mistakes.
“Practice on the edge of disaster so you know where the line is. Then in performance, bring it back just a little.” — Mark Nuccio, Principal Clarinet of the Houston Symphony Orchestra
Take risks outside of playing your instrument. Sure, this will help your confidence, musicianship, and even career, but it will also just make you a more experienced and rounded human being.
Accept new gigs and opportunities even if they are outside of your comfort zone. Speak up and introduce yourself or ideas to new people or a conversation.
It won’t always pay off, you might fail sometimes, but a failure is just an opportunity to learn and grow further as you keep working towards your goals and dreams.
My clarinet teacher and role model once told me about how her succesful Eb clarinet career began. She had seen the audition for 2nd clarinet/Eb was posted only a few weeks before the audition, so she went and bought an Eb clarinet, which she had no professional experience with before, and took it to the audition still with the tag still on it. And she won the job!
That story inspires me to take risks outside of my instrument. She never would’ve won that job if she doubted herself and questioned her qualifications for the position. But she said yes to the opportunity and told herself she’d figure it out.
Because of that story, I accepted a job teaching beginning piano lessons earlier this year! I’m certainly no Yuja Wang, and I had my doubts when I was offered the job, but I have had training in the basics of piano and have enough knowledge and experience as a musician and teacher to be able to do this.
So I said yes and told myself I’d figure it out, which I have! Now I have more professional experience, connections, and self-confidence (and money, haha) because of it!
Push yourself outside of your comfort zone and start taking more risks on and off your instrument. You never know where it’ll lead you.
Mia holds her B.M. in Clarinet Performance from Indiana University and is currently pursuing her masters in this field at California State University in Fullerton. With her writing, she aims to discuss the less conventional aspects of being a modern musician.
