Andrew asked me a while ago to share this idea with you guys. The concept of a musical toolbox was first introduced to me by Pace Sturdevant and is one I find increasingly useful in building confidence and trust in my own playing.
As musicians, we are faced with the constant challenge of relying on muscle and musical memories to perform our art. There is no manual to refer back to explaining how to perform the opening of Mahler V. We need to trust the skills we have developed in the practice room and allow our musical minds to take charge on stage; hence the idea of a musical toolbox.
Your musical toolbox is a database of all the skills you have learnt in your practice room, and it is a tool you carry everywhere. Everything we learn is a new tool that must be added to the box. Learning to trust these tools diminishes anxiety, builds confidence and allows us to communicate our musical ideas effectively.
Any other confidence building ideas would be appreciated
