Product Description

Stage Presence From Head to Toe: A Manual for Musicians is the only resource of its kind: a practical, authoritative guide to accepted practices of stage presence for performing musicians. It answers the basic questions every musician has about a performance: how to prepare, how to dress, how to walk out on stage, how to bow, how to look confident and put your audience at ease, how to interact with other musicians on stage and with backstage personnel. The book discusses the specific needs of soloists and small and large ensembles, both instrumental and vocal. Includes illustrations, several helpful checklists and a comprehensive bibliography.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #842257 in Books
• Published on: 2003-09-28
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 120 pages

From the Publisher
STAGE PRESENCE FROM HEAD TO TOE is the only resource of its kind--a practical, authoritative guide to accepted practices of stage presence for performing musicians. It answers the basic questions every musician has about a performance: how to prepare, how to dress, how to walk out on stage, how to bow, how to look confident and put one's audience at ease, and how to interact with other musicians onstage and with personnel backstage. Hagberg discusses the specific needs of soloists and both small and large ensembles, instrumental and vocal. Illustrations, several helpful checklists, and a comprehensive bibliography are included.

From the Author
This book should appear on the shelves of all musicians--professionals and amateurs, students and teachers. Teachers at the conservatory, high school, and elementary level can use this book as THE reference handbook on stage presence. It is the first textbook for supplementary coursework on this neglected topic.

From the Inside Flap
"Karen Hagberg's STAGE PRESENCE FROM HEAD TO TOE: A MANUAL FOR MUSICIANS is a clear, concise, and absolutely to-the-point guide for performing artists. Ms. Hagberg reminds us how important it is that our posture, appearance, demeanor, and grooming all communicate to our audience. She insightfully offers excellent advice that is valuable for both the amateur and seasoned professional musician."
MICHAEL TILSON THOMAS, Music Director, San Francisco Symphony; Artistic Director, New World Symphony; Principal Guest Conductor, London Symphony Orchestra

"In STAGE PRESENCE FROM HEAD TO TOE Karen Hagberg gives us an invaluable educational tool, one that has been lacking until now. Especially in these challenging days for the development of the classical music audience, this sensitive and extensive work lays a foundation for performer/audience interface and makes the strongest possible case for the importance of being skilled and knowing in all aspects of stage presence. We musicians now have the resource that we have needed."
JAMES UNDERCOFLER, Director and Dean, Eastman School of Music

Customer Reviews

The Pros Need this Book
I have to say that, as a person who attends many professional concerts each year, there are precious few performers who have stage presence good enough not to be distracting to THIS audience member. The guidelines found in this book may seem obvious and understandable, but who really follows them? It is a case of the brain knowing what one SHOULD do, and then the ability of the body actually to DO it.
What I like most about Hagberg's book is that she offers many suggestions about ways actually to practice having good stage presence and, for teachers, ways to teach it to students. This sort of practical manual has been non-existent until now. I think all teachers and musicians (professional and otherwise) need to consult this thorough and practical approach to a sorely neglected subject

Stage Presence Lacks Luster!
I eagerly anticipated Dr. Hagbergs book "Stage Presence from Head to Toe", but found it very disappointing. As I read through the pages of the book, I felt like I was a first grader preparing for a school concert. I was looking for information on making THAT SPECIAL connection with the audience, but found little in this text.

Basically the book tells you what you already know. Stand up straight (posture counts), dress appropriately, let your audience know you are glad they came, be respectful of other musicians, don't chew gum etc. During the performance for example she suggests you avoid wiping your mouth, tapping your toes, licking your lips, wringing or flexing your hands or fingers. These are very, very basic rules that anyone who walks on stage already knows and if they don't they are most likely in primary school and will learn them, when their teacher tells them in a few sentences what it takes Hagberg 107 pages to say.

Sadly, there is nothing new or exciting in this book.

PRACTICAL AND VERY HELPFUL!
Although it is not generally mentioned, a musical performance is more than just the playing of music. The audience notices all kinds of things - what a musician is wearing, what is on the stage, how performers enter and leave, and how they conduct themselves on stage. Poor stage presence can damage or even ruin the performance of even the most accomplished musician. This book highlights the many non-musical things that can seriously affect a musician's performance and their audience's perceptions. It is very enlightening - there are so many factors that you might not have thought of but that really affect what the audience experiences! If you want to win more competitions, have more successful auditions and better attended performances, this straightforward, practical and very helpful text is definitely worth reading.