At Cornerstone Music Studios, we believe that performing is a crucial part of being a musician. Why? Because music is meant to be shared, and because learning is so much more rewarding when it is! Whether you are a natural-born performer that loves the limelight, or more of a shy and quiet musician that plays mostly for themselves, there are tons of ways to learn and practice the benefits of performing music. 

Performing Doesn’t have to be Scary

While some students love the limelight, and others are extremely shy, there are many ways students can experience performing without throwing themselves in front of a large crowd. For example, students can perform for peers in a small group setting, they can perform for parents at the end of a lesson or at home after dinnertime, or they can even record a song and release it virtually so that others can benefit from their music! There are tons of ways to reap the benefits of performing without feeling completely uncomfortable. 

Why Work towards Performance?

At Cornerstone Music Studios, we believe that performance is the culmination of the learning sequence. Performing gives students something to work towards during their lessons, and an end product to show for all of their hard work. After months and months of practicing, students should have something to show off! A performance, no matter how big or small, really gives students a sense of motivation and accomplishment from their music lessons.

In addition, students learn different skills when performing that they just don’t learn during a lesson. These skills include:

• Overcoming and learning from mistakes

• Managing nerves and anxiety

There are many challenges students face when learning an instrument, but performing truly tests their ability to overcome and learn from their mistakes. Professional musicians are not excluded from making mistakes but rather, professional musicians have perfected the art of managing nerves and overcoming their mistakes quickly. The experience of knowing you have to keep going no matter what when performing truly teaches students how to manage their nerves, not be too hard on themselves, and overcome challenges in the moment. We realize when we perform that music lies in the way we create it, not in the mistakes we make while creating it. It’s truly freeing to think this way!

The Best Reason to Perform

At Cornerstone Music Studios, we believe the best reason to perform music is to create and receive inspiration and joy! When music is used as a tool to communicate and connect with others, it truly becomes magical. We love seeing our students’ faces when they hear something new, see a peer succeed, or receive a compliment from a performance, no matter how big or small.