Master Class: Optimal Performance

On both Thursday and Friday afternoons from 3:30-5 p.m., the place to be was the master class on Optimal Performance presented by Don Greene, Ph.D. Almost all of the people at the conference attended both days of the presentation. During the three hours with Dr. Greene, the audience took copious notes and focused on the presentation intently.

IWBC board member and co-principal horn of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Julie Landsman, introduced Dr. Greene. In her remarks, she mentioned the consultations Dr. Greene has provided to her students and the audition success they have experienced. Indeed, Dr. Greene has provided presentations and individual sessions in optimal performance for The Juilliard School, the New World Symphony, the New York Philharmonic, the St. Louis Symphony, etc. Before beginning his work with musicians, Dr. Greene worked as an internationally known sports psychologist for the U. S. Olympic Diving Team which included medallists Greg Louganis and Michele Mitchell.

Dr. Greene presented the basics of achieving optimal performance. He distinguished between optimal performance and the more popular idea of peak performance. During peak performance, incredible things can happen. However, the other side of peak performance is sub-optimal performance where very little goes right. A more dependable performance goal is optimal performance. Rather than raising the standard at the performance, the goal is to perform at a level reached already during practice. This will allow the mental preparation to take over for a great performance – an optimal performance.

In addition to the master classes, Dr. Greene offered individual sessions to IWBC attendees for a reduced fee. I took advantage of this opportunity and I was very impressed with the session. Dr. Greene pinpointed my performance problems quickly and easily cut through side issues. Dr. Greene’s master classes and individual sessions were a highlight for many at the conference in Cincinnati.

Submitted by Daniel Burdick, D.M.A. Assistant Professor of Low Brass Edinboro University of Pennsylvania