musicians, how do you connect with your audience?

Question

what do you have to do to move them?
how big a part does passion play in it?
which is more important, to play musically correct or to play full of emotions?

Answer 1

While it is important to play the correct notes, there is so much more to music than just those right notes. You have to feel the song, and make yourself a part of it. The way you truly move an audience is by putting a lot of feeling and emotion into your song. Make the music flow. Use the appropriate dynamic changes. Move with the music. Become a part of it. If your audience can see that you truly are enjoying what you are doing, and you portray a torrent of emotions to them through your song, they become moved.
I play the piano and the guitar, and I sing. When I perform, many times I even forget where I am. I just let the music take over, and that's all that I think about. I pour my heart and soul into the song. It works every time. Also, if I'm singing (this doesn't really work when I'm at the piano), I try to look my audience in the eye, and I don't just focus on one thing, but my eyes don't dart around, either. When I look at someone in the audience in the eye (but only for a few seconds), it makes them feel a part of what I'm doing, and I feel like I'm connecting with them as well.
Emotions play a big role in your musical performance, and so you can't hold back. Just let it all out, and become the song.
Be warned though, it is still important to play the song correctly! You don't want to repel the audience with a bunch of sour notes! So practice, practice, PRACTICE!

Answer 2

To move your audience, you must show that YOU love the music and that YOU care. That is a "biggy". It also helps if it inspires people to reach their dreams.

Passion is a specific emotion. DO NOT "just stand there like a log". You are a storyteller. Tell the story! If you have a passion for it, make sure the audience knows this. To help the audience, use facial expressions and gestures when appropriate. Too many makes the song look worse. Go through the song, and when you feel that there is a strong "point" that needs to be emphasized, that is where you add in a gesture (or two). Change facial expressions according to the mood of the song. Don't look happy when you're supposed to look sad, etc.

If you are in a musical or an opera, do the above "in character". That means that you must pretend to be that character. Go through the song and ask yourself, "How would he/she respond to this?" This is where acting comes in handy.

I hope this helps!

Answer 3

You move them with passion. Passion is a BiG DEAL in getting the audience to connect with you, and through you, to the music. Do know though, that if the music is not played correctly many people will zone out..start wondering how long the piece will be. No one wants to hear a whole bunch of passion mixed with a whole bunch of incorrect notes and rhythms. So know your music and then play your heart out. You're sure to get a standing ovation (especially if you're good. =]). Hope i helped!

Answer 4

It depends on who you are playing for. My way of connecting is just to feel the music, and to connect to it myself. envision that you are not singing in front of the audience, but TOO the audience. People can tell whether you love what you are doing and are passionate about it.

And in my opinion, if you are passionate about music, then you will automatically play full of emotion. And if you are passionate enough about it, you will feel the need to do it correctly. So I think that it all goes hand in hand.

Answer 5

let me tell you the best answer a pro bass player can give you. you do have to be 110% passionate about what you do. if not then your not really there by the end of a show. plus the music and songs you play also have a major part of how you connect with the audiance. if you play hard core metallica music for people who like eric clapton then people arent going to like it so play the right stuff for the right audiance. but at the same time, just play what ever feels good to you and the audiance might actually follow.
when it comes toplaying correctly or full of emotion, only the bass player and drummer have to do both perfectly. if not, then the band is going to suckl, ive been in bands where both i as a bass player and/or the drummer were not perfect and we sounded like crap. the guitar and keyboard players its ok for them to mak a mistake, but as i said, not the bass or drums. and ALL have to be passionate.
hope that helps

Answer 6

1. To connect with your audience, you might try saying something funny (in good context!), or tell them something from your own experience, that they can relate to.

2. To move them, one can play a dramatic piece, or play with ease, or passion,

3. Hmmm, passion may be over-rated. To watch someone trying to play "passionately," and do a bad job, would likely look silly.

4. It is much more imporatant to play correctly, than bursting with emotion.

Answer 7

aloha, asker!
musicians connect with audience by playing music with emotions (feeling it), and showing it through playing it correctly. it's simply put this way, how can you expect people to appreciate your music if you don't seem to appreciate your own? and to be able to appreciate it, it has to be correct, otherwise it is going to come out a mess---do you agree?

Passion will motivate you to do your best in performing, that's why i would say it is a major part of playing ang performing.

Answer 8

Let your instrument speak for you. You have no doubt
transferred a lot of passion and emotion into it, embuing it
with human qualities and emotions. Your interpretations
should move them as much as it moves you. If you listen
to Stevie Wonder or Andrea Bocelli or Kenny G. or Miles
Davis, you can hear them speak through their music. You
must have the passion first, because no amount of musical
prowess will be able to open doors to people's hearts and
imagination.

Answer 9

become the song. Relay the information to the audience like you are telling them a story that comes from your heart. Moving around the stage is good, but say its a slow, sad song. You can effectivly move your audience to tears and not budge from the stool you are perched on IF you maintain eye contact with individuals in the audience and tell the story like it just happended to you personally.

Answer 10

Just play with all your passion and put 100% of effort into it.
I say that to myself and i guess it works...