For many pianists, the thrill of playing is often accompanied by the high notes of performance pressure, whether it’s during a formal recital, an exam, or a casual gathering. However, a recent study has revealed a fascinating key to enhancing performance and minimizing slip-ups: the focus of our attention while playing the piano.

Research conducted by Ines Jentzsch and Yukiko Braun investigated how amateur pianists performed when given different focus instructions. The findings revealed that individuals who concentrated on the impact of their music (external focus) made fewer mistakes than those who focused on their finger movements (internal focus).

A Note to Piano Teachers

This revelation strikes a chord for piano teachers in search of ways to fine-tune their students’ performances. Steering students to immerse themselves in the sound they create or the emotion they express might just be the secret to a performance that sings with accuracy and emotion.

So, how do we teach this in lessons? Here are some strategies:

• Encourage Sound Exploration: Prompt students to listen to the quality of each note. Is it soft and mellow? Sharp and clear? How does it fill the space around them?
• Guide Emotions Through Music: Guide them to consider how their playing might touch the listener’s heart. What story are they telling? What feeling are they sharing?
• Picture the Performance: Suggest painting a picture in their mind’s eye. If the piece is vibrant and quick, perhaps they could envision a bustling marketplace. If it’s slow and melodic, perhaps they could picture a swan taking a leisurely swim in a pond.

A Fresh Angle on Stage Fright

This study offers a promising approach to managing the jitters of performing. Concentrating on the music’s resonance rather than their technique, pianists can free themselves from stage fright, and might find a smoother path through nervousness, ultimately leading to a more confident performance.

Source: Jentzsch, I., & Braun, Y. (2023). Effects of attention focus instructions on amateur piano performance. Psychology of Music, 51(2), 579-591. https://doi.org/10.1177/03057356221101431