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Going through my files, Part 2: Personal Qualities that Affect Performance

Posted byMezzoid Voice StudioPosted inUncategorized
In my performance anxiety folder, mentioned in my previous article, I also found an artist’s profile. Apparently, I completed a questionnaire that was associated with a book called Performance Success by performance psychologist Don Greene, who has worked with artists all over the world, including at the Juilliard School, LA Opera, and the Olympic Training Center. While I still have the book, I do not remember taking this test at all. But I did. (I suspect it must have been free because I was a serious cheapskate in 2002. It’s not free anymore.)

Here’s a summary of how I scored:
Strengths:
  • Risking Success
  • Ability to Recover 
  • Commitment 
  • Will to Succeed
  • Ability to Risk
Mid-Range Scores: 
  • Ability to Fight (confrontation)
  • Intrinsic Motivation
  • Expectancy
  • Insular Focus
  • Self-Confidence
Areas for Improvement: [note it doesn’t say “weaknesses”]
  • Mental Quiet 
  • Duration of Focus
  • Object of Focus
  • Presence of Focus [are we noticing a theme here?]
  • Performance under Pressure
The overall analysis of these items was that I had terrific energy, commitment, and that I was passionate and perseverant. (Aw, shucks.)
BUT
I needed to work on my concentration (monkey mind!), my intensity, and poise. And that I overthought while performing instead of being in the moment. And that I worried about other people’s opinions of me.
YEP.
I think this has changed. I hope it has changed. I don’t think I could’ve done some of the things I’ve done in growing and sustaining a successful studio if my focusing skills hadn’t improved.
Maybe I should spend the $19 to take the test again and see if it has. What do you think? Should I do it?

I think I should. 

I’ll let you know if I do and if anything has changed in 17 years….

Published by Mezzoid Voice Studio

Christine Thomas-O'Meally, a mezzo soprano and voice teacher currently based in the Baltimore-DC area, has performed everything from the motets of J.S. Bach to the melodies of Irving Berlin to the minimalism of Philip Glass. As an opera singer and actress, she has appeared with companies such as Charm City Players, Spotlighters Theatre, Chicago Opera Theater, Opera Theater of Northern Virginia, Opera North, the Washington Savoyards, In Tandem Theatre, Windfall Theater, The Young Victorian Theater of Baltimore, and Skylight Opera Theatre. She created the role of The Woman in Red in Dominick Argento’s Dream of Valentino in its world premiere with the Washington Opera and Mary Pickersgill in O'er the Ramparts at its world premiere during the Bicentennial of Battle of Baltimore at the Community College of Baltimore County. Other roles include Mrs. Paroo in Music Man, Mother Abbess in Sound of Music, Dorabella in Cosi Fan Tutte, Marcellina in Le Nozze di Figaro, both Hansel and the Witch in Hansel & Gretel, and many roles in Gilbert & Sullivan operettas. Her performance as the Housekeeper in Man of La Mancha was honored with a WATCH award nomination. Ms. Thomas-O'Meally received an M.M. in vocal performance from the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore. She regularly attends master classes and workshops in both performance and vocal pedagogy, and is certified in all three Levels of Somatic Voicework™ The LoVetri Method. Her students have performed on national and international tours of Broadway productions, at prestigious conservatories, and in regional theater throughout the country.

What do you think?

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