Overview

"Stage fright, performance nerves, performance anxiety: are you terrified of stepping into the spotlight? Do you shake, get cold and sweaty hands, experience shallow and fast breathing, dry mouth, nausea or difficulty concentrating? Packed with simple practical interventions, ""Befriending Performance Anxiety"" is your guide to achieving optimal performance states and finding support before, during and after each public event. Suitable for musicians and other performers of all levels of abilities, the content is also invaluable for educators, presenters and reluctant public speakers who fear taking the stage. In ""Befriending Performance Anxiety"", you will learn: How to maintain focus and deal with mistakes The science behind anxiety mechanisms and what we can do about them Simple and practical tips on what to do before, during and after your performance Intervention tools based on breathwork, focus and gentle movement If you would like to build confidence in performing for others, this accessible little book will provide a clear roadmap for success."

Full Product Details

9781739717605

Table of Contents

Reviews

Xenia Pestova Bennett's approach to this subject is a breath of fresh air. Broadly rooted in calming down our physiological responses, she opens up important areas of exploration with a light touch and keen insight. - Steven Osborne, concert pianist Xenia provides simple, step-by-step instruction to help you achieve calm and inner peace. An ideal resource for anyone wanting to quieten the mind, and for performers in any field. - Patrick McKeown, Author of The Oxygen Advantage and The Breathing Cure Grounded in her career as a concert pianist, Xenia offers accessible and effective interventions to calm performance anxiety. This book brings together ancient contemplative practices and contemporary science. It's an incredible resource for performers of all kinds and from all walks of life. - Karina Ayn Mirsky, MA, ERYT; Author of Make a Difference & Make a Living Teaching Yoga: The Secret to Transforming Lives while Supporting YourSelf; Founder of Yoga Mindset Coaching LOVE, love, love, this book. Created by a musician-educator this is a veritable gold mine of tools and interventions that have been tried and tested first-hand. Top of the MUST READ list for performers and performance educators, from classical to traditional music - and everything in between. - Dr Liz Doherty, I Teach Trad: Professional Development for Irish Traditional Music Teachers This book is a helpful guide for anyone experiencing anxiety, including performance anxiety. Xenia's instruction is well researched, introducing readers to interventions from different health and wellness modalities and traditions with clarity and approachability. Her explanations on autonomic nervous system regulation through breath work and movement are simple, accessible, and are proven to be effective. - Jerry Givens, Author of Essential Pranayama Empowering wisdom emerges from these pages: the discovery that a slight shift in attention changes your state from anxiety and worry to a widening calm allowing your butterflies to fly in formation. - Penny O'Connor, MSTAT, Author of Alexander Technique for Actors The wisdom, kindness and curiosity that Pestova Bennett brings to bear in all her artistic work shines through in these pages, which are full of brilliant approaches to the alchemical problem we all - musicians included - face with turning our demons into something positive and powerful. - Rolf Hind, concert pianist and composer Xenia Pestova Bennett's research exploring the connections between body, mind and musical performance provides a holistic approach to an area that has hitherto been neglected. It is my view that the wellbeing potential of applying Xenia's practical techniques to all areas of life is profound, and I look forward to incorporating them more consistently into my creative practice in the future. - Dr Orla Flanagan, professional conductor and Assistant Professor of Music, Trinity College Dublin

"""Xenia Pestova Bennett's approach to this subject is a breath of fresh air. Broadly rooted in calming down our physiological responses, she opens up important areas of exploration with a light touch and keen insight."" - Steven Osborne, concert pianist ""Xenia provides simple, step-by-step instruction to help you achieve calm and inner peace. An ideal resource for anyone wanting to quieten the mind, and for performers in any field."" - Patrick McKeown, Author of The Oxygen Advantage and The Breathing Cure ""Grounded in her career as a concert pianist, Xenia offers accessible and effective interventions to calm performance anxiety. This book brings together ancient contemplative practices and contemporary science. It's an incredible resource for performers of all kinds and from all walks of life."" - Karina Ayn Mirsky, MA, ERYT; Author of Make a Difference & Make a Living Teaching Yoga: The Secret to Transforming Lives while Supporting YourSelf; Founder of Yoga Mindset Coaching ""LOVE, love, love, this book. Created by a musician-educator this is a veritable gold mine of tools and interventions that have been tried and tested first-hand. Top of the MUST READ list for performers and performance educators, from classical to traditional music - and everything in between."" - Dr Liz Doherty, I Teach Trad: Professional Development for Irish Traditional Music Teachers ""This book is a helpful guide for anyone experiencing anxiety, including performance anxiety. Xenia's instruction is well researched, introducing readers to interventions from different health and wellness modalities and traditions with clarity and approachability. Her explanations on autonomic nervous system regulation through breath work and movement are simple, accessible, and are proven to be effective."" - Jerry Givens, Author of Essential Pranayama ""Empowering wisdom emerges from these pages: the discovery that a slight shift in attention changes your state from anxiety and worry to a widening calm allowing your butterflies to fly in formation."" - Penny O'Connor, MSTAT, Author of Alexander Technique for Actors ""The wisdom, kindness and curiosity that Pestova Bennett brings to bear in all her artistic work shines through in these pages, which are full of brilliant approaches to the alchemical problem we all - musicians included - face with turning our demons into something positive and powerful."" - Rolf Hind, concert pianist and composer ""Xenia Pestova Bennett's research exploring the connections between body, mind and musical performance provides a holistic approach to an area that has hitherto been neglected. It is my view that the wellbeing potential of applying Xenia's practical techniques to all areas of life is profound, and I look forward to incorporating them more consistently into my creative practice in the future."" - Dr Orla Flanagan, professional conductor and Assistant Professor of Music, Trinity College Dublin"

Author Information

"Dr Xenia Pestova Bennett is an internationally active concert pianist and Associate Professor at the University of Nottingham. Described as ""a powerhouse of contemporary keyboard repertoire"" (Tempo), ""stunning"" (Wales Arts Review), ""ravishing"" (Pizzicato) and ""remarkably sensuous"" (New Zealand Herald) in the international press, she has earned a reputation as a leading interpreter of uncompromising repertoire alongside masterpieces from the past. Xenia combines her research and first-hand experience in performance anxiety management with extensive training as a yoga, breathwork and meditation instructor. In addition to performing and teaching, Xenia regularly offers workshops on tools to ""befriend"" performance and generalised anxiety for individuals, businesses and organisations including the British Association for Performing Arts Medicine; the Contemporary Music Centre (Ireland); Facebook London; Triyoga UK; and higher education institutions around the world including leading music conservatoires."

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