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SMM7: John Bryant on the Need for a Short Memory
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Dr. John Bryant is NEWLY appointed Artist Affiliate and Professor of Trumpet at Reinhardt University. He is 2nd trumpet of both the Savannah Philharmonic and the Atlanta Pops Orchestra as well as Principal Solo Cornet of the Georgia Brass Band. He teaches a private studio in his home in Atlanta where he lives with his wife, Mary Beth.
Worst performance moment: Was featured soloist at a music camp. Was ill, and taught all day. The performance didn't go well, and didn't play for 4 weeks.
The "I've Got This" moment: A few weeks later, played principal trumpet for Tchaikovsky 6th Symphony and killed it.
How John stays "in the zone": Stretches, lacrosse balls, Don Greene's work.
The Hot Seat
JN: It’s 5 minutes before you go on stage for an important performance… What are you doing?JB: If it’s an orchestra show, I have a routine. Once the suit goes on, I drink water, make sure I have everything I need, mutes, valve oil, etc. I stand back stage, play a few flow studies, then walk on stage, get my music in order. I don’t play anything. I just sit there and breathe.For a solo performance, I do a bit more. I love Tony Robbins’ idea of setting a mantra and pumping yourself up. Say it a thousand times. Find those three key words you want to define your performance. I think “beautiful sound,” “unstoppable” “divine.” I repeat that over and over. It repeats in my head and it’s pretty effective in getting myself in the right frame of mind.
JN: What’s the best performance-related advice you've ever received?
JB: We’ve all seen Aladdin. There’s a scene where Aladdin is about to go on a date with Jasmine and the genie turns into a bee and says, “Beeee Yourself!” I think that’s the best performance advice I’ve ever received. I can idolize certain players, but it’s not me. I have to do my own thing. I’m not going to put the pressure of being someone I’m not on myself. Just be yourself.
JN: Can you share one tip for our listeners to help deal with stage fright? (Physical, mental, etc.)
Just do it. When I was a younger kid, I didn’t get stage fright. I never had a bad performance. Then I had my first bad performance and it took me awhile to overcome it. You get into a rut because you think, “What if that happens again?” I think going through the motions and putting yourself out there. Start small. Play for anyone and everyone. Go outside and play on a street corner and play tunes. Get out some method books. Play some tunes that other people know. They’re not looking for you to make mistakes. The obstacles are what you see when you take your mind off the goal. So stop looking at the obstacles. Make beautiful music. When I’m getting ready for auditions, my wife will put me on the spot and have me play the excerpts when we have house guests. This is part of the Don Greene idea. Be prepared. It could happen any time. Just play for people. The more you do it, the less it’s scary.
JN: Imagine you’re on stage. It’s the end of the performance and the audience is on its feet, applauding. They don’t want any more and they don’t want any less. Everything is perfect. What have you just done? Give details: Venue, repertoire, band mates, etc. Get Creative!!!
JB: The best I can say is I left it all out there. I swung for the fences and hit it out. One particular performance I remember is I played Windows for trumpet and organ by Peter Ebbens. It gets to the very end and there’s a high C at the very end. So I went for it and I pasted it to the back of that church. Everyone went nuts! I didn’t let the fact I had been playing for the last hour and a half prevent me from going for it. I just made beautiful music. I took chances and they all worked out. I didn’t think, “What if I mess up?
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Episode Sponsor
Subscribe to the Podcast
Dr. John Bryant is NEWLY appointed Artist Affiliate and Professor of Trumpet at Reinhardt University. He is 2nd trumpet of both the Savannah Philharmonic and the Atlanta Pops Orchestra as well as Principal Solo Cornet of the Georgia Brass Band. He teaches a private studio in his home in Atlanta where he lives with his wife, Mary Beth.
Worst performance moment: Was featured soloist at a music camp. Was ill, and taught all day. The performance didn't go well, and didn't play for 4 weeks.
The "I've Got This" moment: A few weeks later, played principal trumpet for Tchaikovsky 6th Symphony and killed it.
How John stays "in the zone": Stretches, lacrosse balls, Don Greene's work.
The Hot Seat
JN: It’s 5 minutes before you go on stage for an important performance… What are you doing?JB: If it’s an orchestra show, I have a routine. Once the suit goes on, I drink water, make sure I have everything I need, mutes, valve oil, etc. I stand back stage, play a few flow studies, then walk on stage, get my music in order. I don’t play anything. I just sit there and breathe.For a solo performance, I do a bit more. I love Tony Robbins’ idea of setting a mantra and pumping yourself up. Say it a thousand times. Find those three key words you want to define your performance. I think “beautiful sound,” “unstoppable” “divine.” I repeat that over and over. It repeats in my head and it’s pretty effective in getting myself in the right frame of mind.
JN: What’s the best performance-related advice you've ever received?
JB: We’ve all seen Aladdin. There’s a scene where Aladdin is about to go on a date with Jasmine and the genie turns into a bee and says, “Beeee Yourself!” I think that’s the best performance advice I’ve ever received. I can idolize certain players, but it’s not me. I have to do my own thing. I’m not going to put the pressure of being someone I’m not on myself. Just be yourself.
JN: Can you share one tip for our listeners to help deal with stage fright? (Physical, mental, etc.)
Just do it. When I was a younger kid, I didn’t get stage fright. I never had a bad performance. Then I had my first bad performance and it took me awhile to overcome it. You get into a rut because you think, “What if that happens again?” I think going through the motions and putting yourself out there. Start small. Play for anyone and everyone. Go outside and play on a street corner and play tunes. Get out some method books. Play some tunes that other people know. They’re not looking for you to make mistakes. The obstacles are what you see when you take your mind off the goal. So stop looking at the obstacles. Make beautiful music. When I’m getting ready for auditions, my wife will put me on the spot and have me play the excerpts when we have house guests. This is part of the Don Greene idea. Be prepared. It could happen any time. Just play for people. The more you do it, the less it’s scary.
JN: Imagine you’re on stage. It’s the end of the performance and the audience is on its feet, applauding. They don’t want any more and they don’t want any less. Everything is perfect. What have you just done? Give details: Venue, repertoire, band mates, etc. Get Creative!!!
JB: The best I can say is I left it all out there. I swung for the fences and hit it out. One particular performance I remember is I played Windows for trumpet and organ by Peter Ebbens. It gets to the very end and there’s a high C at the very end. So I went for it and I pasted it to the back of that church. Everyone went nuts! I didn’t let the fact I had been playing for the last hour and a half prevent me from going for it. I just made beautiful music. I took chances and they all worked out. I didn’t think, “What if I mess up?