0924 – Pre-Performance Routines

2023.07.13 – 0924 – Pre-Performance Routines

Pre-performance routines

Having a routine reminds the mind of what’s coming next: a live show or a session recording. We’ve spoken about all of these before:

A mental warm-up, perhaps on the bus or train on the way to the studio or sitting in the car outside.

Release tension and let go. Imagine you are somewhere warm, maybe on a beach or park. Imagine the sun warming your toes. Focus on the image of loosening and softening and the sun shining and melting any tension away. Repeat while considering your feet, ankles, shins and calves, knees, thighs, pelvis, lower belly and back, ribs, chest and upper back, shoulders, uppers arms, lower arms, hands, neck, face, scalp.

A physical warm up: walking to the studio or on a mid-way break through a recording, getting outside for some fresh air and sun.

Try a wall lunge: stand a few feet away from a wall with one leg slightly forward, and push against the wall and then relax. This can also lower the amount of tension-inducing hormones in the body, such as cortisol.

Shoulder rolls, shaking the hands, and arms and head turns

Try clenching each group of muscles from your toes upwards. Tense each group in turn, holding for a count of five and then relax them.

Soften the body: are you gripping a mouse or pen, which will give tension in the hand, arms and shoulder.

A vocal warm up:

Hums in your speaking range, ‘ng’ sweeps

Yawn, stretching the tongue, lip trills.

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