Congratulations! You survived the first week of 2022. Last week did not turn out the way I had expected with more province-wide restrictions and a return to virtual learning. Monday was a frantic day of unexpected communications, emails, organizing materials, delivering art kits and pivoting to online learning. But here’s the thing, two things are true: virtual learning can be tiring and frustrating AND virtual learning creates amazing opportunities for continued momentum and laser-focused musical learning.
This week has reminded me of how grateful I am that we were able to safely come together and share in the beauty of music and the transformative power of the arts as a community before the holidays. Live performance is powerful. We learn so much about ourselves, our bodies and our emotions through the art of performance. Performance is where we build confidence, resilience and a true love and appreciation for the arts.
Clinical psychologist Dr. Becky Kennedy often uses the phrase “two things are true”. I absolutely love this phrase. Donais Studios students Pierce and Renee coined the phrase “sca-ited” on the day of the Winter Concert. For Pierce and Renee, two things were true that day. They were scared AND excited to perform – “sca-ited”. Pierce and Renee used their “sca-ited” energy to perform beautiful piano solos for a room full of likely “sca-ited” performers and audience members. When we begin to understand that two things are true in performance situations (and quite honestly, most life situations), we begin to realize the full transformative power of the arts.
Don’t get me wrong, performance IS NOT the goal of music lessons or the mark of success. Performance is a tool. An extremely valuable tool. Performance is how we share our music and story with others AND where we learn how our bodies respond to new, uncomfortable and potentially stressful situations. There are very few experiences or opportunities in life that help us build confidence and resilience in such a meaningful and authentic way. Performance is not the destination, it’s a part of the journey.
Embrace all of the feelings and emotions that come up for you when you think about performing; whether performing for one or two close friends, or an audience of acquaintances. What is true for you? Understanding, accepting and welcoming these feelings is the first step in transformation. The first time you drove a car you were likely “sca-ited”. However, you embraced those feelings and got in the driver’s seat anyway. If you had never sat in the driver’s seat and practiced driving, you would never have become a comfortable and confident driver. You could watch YouTube videos, listen to podcasts, read books about how to drive all day long, but NOTHING replaces sitting in the driver’s seat and doing it. It’s the same for performing. We need to bring awareness to and embrace all of the feelings and emotions that surround performing, and practice the art of performance (more on this topic next week)!
At Donais Studios we create intentional performance experiences that are positive, nurturing and encouraging. Performance experiences that motivate our students to embrace and become aware of their body’s response in performance situations. Performance experiences centred around positive growth and development, not competition and perfection. Awareness = transformation.
I cannot stress enough that performance is not the destination. Performance is a profound moment of learning and sharing in the artistic journey. Embrace the reality that “two things are true”.
xo
Andrea “two things are true” Donais
P.S. Each week I will be sharing insight into my personal thoughts and philosophies on arts education. If you would like to pick my brain on a specific topic, send me an email!