About
3 years ago, I attended the Ravenna Festival-a classical music concert. This
was my first live classical concert; dedicated to the youth of Nairobi, with
the aim of awakening their souls through music’s universal and boundless
message. This was achieved through the discipline of the classical music. And a
taste of how it feels when the etiquette is observed was served- Super
performance! Ravenna Festival demonstrated that super performance is certain in
our careers and in our lives, if we follow these simple classical tips:
1.
Mind your time
Be early enough to find your assigned
seat and stay in your seat until the end of the performance or intermissions if
you have to go to the bathroom. Dedicating a substantial amount of focused time
towards our work can be challenging amid a busy buzzing world. However, we
should strive to achieve this and entertain no negative distraction during this
time.
2.
Be quiet
As much as possible, avoid talking,
sneezing, coughing, shuffling around or whispering during the concert. This is
termed as the most important etiquette -Total Silence. In his book, As a Man
THINKETH, James Allen writes, “Calmness of the mind is one of the beautiful
jewels of wisdom. The more tranquil a man becomes, the greater is his success,
his influence, his power for good.”
3.
Stay still
Stretching your arms, cracking your
knuckles, snapping your fingers, tapping your toes or chewing is improper
during performances. These actions distract the viewers and performers. Sustaining
attention is the key to success and it allows the brain the capacity to be
productive, creative and organized as Margaret Moore-MBA, writes, Sustained
focus is possible in a calm, grounded state. Keep your thinking on track, stay
connected to your intention and set aside all other distractions.
4.
Alarms, Flashes
Off
Wristwatches with alarms, cell phones
and flash photography are not allowed during the concert. “Before you can get
focused, you need to get into control, or at least have a handle on your
emotional frenzy. Multiple inputs zoom at us head-on all day long, demanding
all of our brain resources. This frenzy impairs and overwhelms the prefrontal
cortex, the brain’s CEO region, so that we can’t ‘think straight.’” –Margaret Moore.
5.
Hold your
applause
Do not rush to applaud. It is forbidden
between movements. This can be hard and confusing if you are not a classical
musician or unfamiliar with the piece. Racing thoughts can be confusing; they
divert our focus and hinder our concentration. Be calm and demonstrate self-control.
6.
Maximize on intermissions
Classical concerts have breaks. This is
the right time to leave your seat for the rest rooms and to respond to your
texts or calls. “Shifting from
mindful to mindless work gives the brain time to process complex problems in a
relaxed state and also restores the energy necessary for the next round of
mindful work.” Erin Doland-Unclutter.com
“Self-control is
strength; Right thought is mastery; Calmness is power...” James Allen
©Olegamba 2014.
No comments:
Post a Comment