Placing and Pacing:

The challenges of a
young musician in
South Africa
Introduction
• Musicians are multi-taskers
• Cognitive areas in combination
• Playing any instrument requires a multitude of simultaneous processes
– mental and physiological
• How do we create and re-create as performers? How can we
communicate to our audience? How do we overcome stage-fright?
How can we make a living from this activity?
• Being a musician is like being a trapeze artist: it is a balancing act
• How do I prevent myself from falling? Placing and Pacing
Multi-tasking
Placing

• Where am I? Environment and Personal Career

• Why do I do what I do? Vocation
• What am I doing and what am I playing?
• What am I preparing for? Exam, competition, concert
• The stage: circle of comfort; the inner voice;
perspective; communication with your listener
Pacing
• What is technique?
Pacing
• How can I be realistic?
• Playing repertoire that suits my skills;
• Developing my technique gradually;
• Learning a piece systematically (Richter);
• Use my time discerningly;
• Thick-skinned;
• Stay abreast of the world out there –
recordings, streaming
Pacing
Pacing
• What do I need?
• Repertoire;
• Know how to generate concerts – agents,
booking agents, letter-writing, portfolio;
• Social Media;
• Website; Design;
• Recordings;
• Building and writing your CV
Pacing
Pacing

• How do I achieve balance?

• Knowing career paths – being versatile;
• Personal growth – knowledge is power
Pacing
Concerts
Chamber Music
Florence
Doctoral study
Selected sources

 Neuhaus, H. 1958. The Art of Piano Playing. Translated

by K.A. Leibovitch. London: Kahn & Averill (2002).
 Labrand, C. & Sturrock, D. 1999. The Art of Piano. DVD
Recording, NVC Arts, Warner Music Vision, IMG Artists,
3984-29199-2.
 Monsaigneon, B. 1998. Richter – The Enigma. DVD
Recording, Idéale Audience.
 www.canva.com
 www.benschoeman.com