Classical Music

» Sarah Canice Funke - Performers

What do you pay attention to the most when you go to a concert? Do you notice the performer's dress at all? Or the way a pianist sits at his or her instrument? Or does the performer manage to make you forget about anything but the music?

Sometimes the smallest mannerisms can distract an audience. I remember one concert in which a woman performer's hair was not tied back securely and during extremely passionate sections of her piano concerto, it would bob up and down in rhythm with the music. Some performers sway. Some slouch. Some wear garish clothing that distracts the eye rather than enhancing the performer’s appearance. Some hum along. In fact, a few performers like Glen Gould actually become famous for the horrendous vocal accompaniments they add to their instrumental performances. Some websites offer humorous and prankster devices that derive their comedy mainly from the fact that Gould's self-accompaniment to his piano playing is notorious in the world of classical performance. Maybe you’ve even received advice regarding your own performance style. I remember one of my piano teachers would have her students practice bowing before a performance so we wouldn’t look like ducks once we were on stage.

What are some of your worst memories of performance idiosyncrasies?