The Notes Were Ready.
The Performer Was Not.
Until!
Hands are not for fidgeting. Eyes are not for the floor. A student can practice every note perfectly and still have no idea what to, or not to do, onstage. Performance Seminar is about stage presence. Don't just practice. Don't just perform. Practice performing.
One Take
Performance is everything the audience experiences. It begins the moment the performer steps onto the stage before even a single note is played, and ends only after the last guest has left the hall. What happens in between cannot be replicated in a practice room. When presenting live in front of an audience, there is only one take. Once nervousness sets in, the hidden gaps in preparation all come out, all at once, when results matter the most.
Performance Seminar at YAF addresses each student's stage presence directly. Classes recreate environments similar to concerts, auditions, and competitions before controlled audiences of faculty, peers, and family members. Each student tests presenting themselves under pressure, followed by faculty critique to target individual tendencies long before they reach a public audience.
Seminar I - Individual Stage Presence as Soloist
How to maintain composure when all eyes are on you
Seminar II - Public Speaking: Extemporaneous and Prepared Delivery
How to address audiences as musician and presenter
Seminar III - Chamber Ensemble Presentation
How to share the stage with others