As August arrives and school start dates loom, it's a good time to look at the best and worst parts of the summer. One of the highlights for musicians in the summer can often be the opportunity to perform our music outside. Outdoor music festivals are a beloved part of summer culture. However, performing outside can also bring its own share of troubles. Do you love performing outdoors? Or do you hate it?
We recently asked our Teachers' Lounge group on Facebook to weigh in on performing outdoors. Whether they love it or hate it depends on a few factors.
- Weather. Did anyone watch the Opening Ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games and want to cry for those pianos that were seemingly destroyed in the rain? Weather of course is a musician's worst enemy when it comes to outdoor performing. Rain aside, a strong wind can make it difficult to perform or to hear. And particularly hot weather makes it miserable to put energy into performing. But if it's too cold... then fingers might not work on our instruments the way we want!
- Acoustics of the venue. In the age of amplified music, not everyone pays heed to the importance of good acoustics. If something is amplified, it is less important that the venue be appropriate for musical instruments. But if the venue is not amplified, then an open air performance space can be disastrous for acoustic instruments. On the flip side, anyone who has attended an event in an ancient amphitheater knows it can be magical, but if the sound has no place to bounce around, then good luck!
- Music stands and clips. Such a little thing! But a binder clip can be the difference between a smooth performance and a windy mess. Are there solid stands available that will withstand a cool breeze? Is the music in a binder that can be clipped to the stand so the pages don't blow everywhere? This is a good case for putting music on an iPad....
- Bug spray. Stand lights. Appropriate chairs. Maybe a few other things that get forgotten but are vitally important to a successful outdoor performance.
What have you found to be important as you've performed outside this summer? What are the tips and tricks you'd pass along to other music teachers?
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